Russian propaganda fakes Charlie Hebdo cover about Zelensky’s Christmas greeting

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading what they claim is a new cover of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The image depicts a caricature of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the caption: “Friend of Satan: The last person who wished death on someone during the time of Jesus’ birth was King Herod.” The propagandists claim the magazine is allegedly criticizing the President’s Christmas address to the Ukrainian people.

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

The fake cover lists a publication date of December 26 and issue number 1745. However, Charlie Hebdo did not release a new issue on that date.

In reality, the most recent issues were published on December 10, 17, and 24, numbered 1742, 1743, and 1744 respectively. These covers feature entirely different cartoons unrelated to Ukraine. The next issue, No. 1745, is expected to be released on December 31 or in January.

Recently, President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Ukrainians on Christmas Eve. He said that Ukraine is celebrating Christmas in difficult times, but despite all the hardships brought by Russia, it cannot occupy the most important thing – national unity. According to Zelensky, Ukrainians share similar hopes and dreams during the holidays.

“Today, we all share one dream. And we make one wish – for all of us. ‘May he perish,’ each of us may think to ourselves. But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it. And we deserve it,” the President said.

Although Zelensky did not mention any specific name, the Kremlin reacted nervously to the implication.

Thus, Russia is attempting to discredit the President of Ukraine and create the impression that the West allegedly condemns his words in the Christmas greeting.

It should be noted that Russian propagandists frequently create and distribute fake covers of well-known foreign satirical magazines. Among the fabrications attributed to these “creators” are fake covers of Germany’s Titanic, France’s Courrier International and Franc-Tireur, India’s weekly Ananda Vikatan, the U.S. political satire magazine Humor Times, and Spain’s satirical magazine El Jueves.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, Russian propaganda earlier forged a Charlie Hebdo cover about Angelina Jolie’s visit to Ukraine.

By Andrii Olenin