Russian propaganda spreading fakes about Zelensky amid escalation around Greenland and Davos Forum

Propagandists have forged the cover of the French publication Charlie Hebdo and a photo from a Ukrainian media outlet.

Russian Telegram channels and bots on the social network X are spreading what they claim to be a new cover of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. It depicts a caricature of the President of Ukraine with the caption: “Zelensky sends his best soldiers to defend Greenland.” Propagandists claim that the magazine is allegedly hinting at Ukraine’s intention to deploy troops to the island.

This is fake. No such cover exists either on the official Charlie Hebdo website or on the magazine’s social media pages, where covers of new issues are usually published.

The fake cover lists the publication date as January 22 and issue number 1750. However, no new issue of Charlie Hebdo was released on that day. In fact, the most recent issues of the magazine were published on December 7, 14, and 21 under issue numbers 1746, 1747, and 1748 respectively. Their covers feature completely different cartoons unrelated to Ukraine.

The next issue of the magazine – No. 1749 – is expected on January 28, while issue No. 1750 is scheduled for February.

In addition, Russian media, Telegram channels, and users on X circulated a photo from the World Economic Forum in Davos allegedly showing President Zelensky wearing platform shoes to appear taller. The image also features the logo of a Ukrainian media outlet.

This is also fake. In the original photo published by the Ukrainian media, Volodymyr Zelensky is wearing ordinary shoes, with no platforms or inserts.

It is worth noting that Ukrinform has previously debunked a similar fake spread by Russian propaganda.

Thus, these Russian information attacks are aimed at discrediting the President of Ukraine in the eyes of both international and Ukrainian audiences. Their goal is to divert attention from diplomatic negotiations and efforts to achieve peace.

As reported by Ukrinform, earlier Russian propaganda spread fakes claiming that Ukraine was allegedly “preparing an assassination attempt” on Trump and seeking to deploy troops in Greenland.

By Andrii Olenin