Russian Disinformation Targets First Lady of UkraineRussian Disinformation Targets First Lady of Ukraine A rumor spread by a pro-Russian disinformation website claimed that Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, had purchased a luxury Bugatti Tourbillon vehicle for 4.5 million euros during a visit to Paris. Debunking the Rumor The Parisian dealer for Bugatti denied the rumor, calling it “completely false.” The alleged invoice provided by the website contained inconsistencies and inaccuracies, including misspelled location and missing official details. Disinformation Tactics This incident highlights classic Russian disinformation techniques aimed at discrediting Ukrainian elites, undermining Western support for Ukraine, and weakening democratic regimes. Such tactics often rely on targeting individuals with the intent to spread false narratives. Hidden Truth and Storm-1516 Network The alleged source of the information, Hidden Truth, belongs to an influential network known as CopyCop or Storm-1516. This network operates by creating fictitious whistleblower accounts, spreading disinformation through controlled video channels, and leveraging ties to Russian officials to amplify false news. Other Inaccuracies * The alleged seller, “Jacques Bertin,” is likely a fictitious identity. * The video used to present the rumor was identified as a deepfake generated by artificial intelligence. * Olena Zelenska has previously been the target of false accusations, including a claim that she spent a million dollars on jewelry in New York. Conclusion The rumor about Olena Zelenska’s alleged purchase of a Bugatti Tourbillon is a fabricated narrative spread by Russian disinformation channels. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by Russia to undermine Ukrainian credibility and support for its cause.
This rumor, spread by a pro-Russian disinformation site, was denied by the brand’s Parisian dealer.
“I am pleased to announce that the first owner of the new Bugatti Tourbillon will be the wife of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska”. A certain “Jacques Bertin”, who presented himself as an employee of the Schumacher car group, spread this rumor on Monday, July 1, on his Instagram account, which has since been deleted. According to him, the Ukrainian First Lady would have purchased the luxury vehicle during the presidential couple’s last visit to Paris, in early June.
Within one day, several dubious sources spread the contents of this publication, including the Russian agency Ria Novosti and an openly pro-Russian French-language account on X and on Telegram. “While Ukrainians are dying in an absurd war, Olena Zelenska, the wife of (Volodymyr) Zelensky buys himself a Bugatti Tourbillon for 4.5 million euros during a stay in Paris. The contrast between their luxury and the misery of Ukraine is disgusting”according to the author of the tweet, which has since been deleted. This story is repeated word for word by English-language accounts.
While Ukrainians are sent to die in a senseless conflict, Olena Zelenska splashes out on a €4.5 million Bugatti Turbillon during a visit to Paris. Decadence amidst devastation is incomprehensible.
An insider from the Parisian Bugatti dealer revealed that there was a private presentation… photo.twitter.com/r1EK6IaHZn
— TheIslander (@IslanderReports) July 1, 2024
Such tactics are classic Russian disinformation techniques: targeting elites with the aim of discrediting them in the public eye, undermining Western support for Ukraine, or even weakening democratic regimes.
In reality, everything is untrue. First clue: the sources of this alleged information. The Ria Novosti news agency relies on the Hidden Truth website. According to a report (PDF) Published in late June by American cybersecurity company Recorded Future, Hidden Truth puts online “plagiarized and targeted content from legitimate French media“In the context of the parliamentary elections in France, this site, registered on June 22, a week before the first round, would even “used to publish deepfakes aimed at the Macron government”according to the report.
Hidden Truth is part of an influential network called CopyCop or Storm-1516, discovered in April by Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center. The modus operandi for “the laundering of disinformation” According to Microsoft, it works like this: Someone poses as a whistleblower and broadcasts a story on a specially designed video channel. Their words are then picked up by sites with ties to Russia. Russian expats and officials then spread the fake news.
Several journalists and Internet users have noticed inconsistencies in the story that “Jacques Bertin” puts forward, starting with his identity, which seems fictitious. Italian journalist David Puente identified a deepfake generated by artificial intelligence, as he detailed on X. The face is indeed very pixelated compared to the rest of the landscape. Furthermore, the profile picture used on Instagram is just a black and white screenshot of the video.
The Parisian suburb where the car was supposedly purchased, Neuilly-sur-Seine, is misspelled (Neuily-sur-Seine) on the invoice provided online, as internet user @osint_random points out on X. In addition, several mandatory details relating to the Ministry of Economy are missing from the document, such as the currency, the address of the head office or the Siren or Siret number.
The Bugatti dealer in Paris finally reported the fraud via his Instagram account on Tuesday. The Car Enthusiasts Group (who operates the concession) strongly denies both the existence of this transaction and, consequently, the existence of this invoice”the company wrote. “The price of the vehicle is flat out incorrect, the price of the options and their descriptions are inaccurate and inconsistent, the graphic charter is outdated”she explains. A complaint has been filed “for forgery, use of forgery, identity theft and defamation”according to Bugatti Paris, that “with violence this campaign of disinformation”.
It is not the first time that the wife of the Ukrainian president has been the target of fake news. Last year, Olena Zelenska was falsely accused of spending a million dollars on jewelry in New York.
