Disinfo watchdog debunks fake reports of Zelensky “acquiring” France’s largest private bank
That’s according to the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, Ukrinform reports.
“A fake report is spreading online that one of France’s largest private investment banks, Milleis Banques, was acquired by a company affiliated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Center ran an investigation, debunking the hoax. ‘French media’ are indicated as the original source of the report but no reputable media outlet has ever reported such a deal. The video, which poses as a news report used as ‘evidence’, contains a non-existent TV channel logo," the statement says.
It is noted that disinformation is being spread in the English-speaking segment of the X social network through accounts that systematically take part in malign campaigns targeting Ukraine, as well as through the Russian disinformation network, Pravda, which has already been exposed by the CCD.
The watchdog noted that Russian Telegram channels illustrate posts on the said topic with a screenshot of the headline of a non-existent news piece of March 6.
In parallel lines, other false statements regarding the Ukrainian president are circulating on social media for English-speaking audiences, which points to a coordinated campaign to discredit Zelensky. In particular, some claim that the president allegedly owns a house in Florida worth $35 million and that he has $1.2 billion in a foreign bank account. This hoax had been invented by the Russians back in February 2022 and repeatedly refuted since then.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, a surge in disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting mobilization efforts in Ukraine is being observed in the English-speaking segment of X.
