Russian propaganda spreads fake videos to discredit Ukrainians in France

Russian Telegram channels are circulating a video allegedly produced by the French sports publication L’Équipe about a supposed Instagram post by France national football team captain and Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappé. The video claims that a Ukrainian who allegedly worked at the footballer’s home robbed him of €2 million. The propagandists also claim that, in connection with the incident, Mbappé published an Instagram post expressing “support” for Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

This is fake. L’Équipe did not publish such a video either on its official website or on its social media platforms. It should be noted that the format of the pseudo-video does not match the outlet’s video style, as L’Équipe primarily produces content in French.

The most recent L’Équipe news item related to Mbappé at the time this fact-check was published was dated January 14 and focused on Real Madrid’s elimination from the Spanish Cup.

The French forward also did not make any such posts about Putin on Instagram. Mbappé’s latest post is dedicated to a collaboration with a French fashion brand.

It is also worth noting that there are no mentions of this alleged “incident” in any reputable international media outlet.

In addition, Russian social media accounts posing as Ukrainian are spreading a video bearing the logo of the Center for Countering Disinformation. The video claims that bot farms spreading fake stories about Ukrainian refugees were allegedly uncovered in France.

Moreover, the same channels are distributing a video with the logo of the French newspaper Le Figaro, which claims that the French government supposedly spent €21 million on schools for teaching the Ukrainian language, but that only nine people have studied there since 2023.

These are also fakes. Neither the CCD nor Le Figaro published such videos, and the “facts” cited in them do not correspond to reality.

In this way, Russian propaganda is attempting to discredit both Ukrainians living in France and the French themselves in order to undermine the good relations between the two countries and their peoples.

As reported by Ukrinform, earlier Russia circulated fake videos allegedly issued by major international media outlets to discredit Ukrainian refugees.

By Andrii Olenin

First photo: Pexels