Zelenskyy Fires Back After Russia Launches ‘Fake News’ Smear Campaign
(StraightNews.org) – There are numerous ways to wage war. While the most obvious is with guns, tanks, and bombs, some nations try using misinformation to sow seeds of defeat, helplessness, and falsehood amongst a people. That’s what Russia has allegedly been trying to do in Ukraine. A recent attempt at spreading misinformation was partially successful — until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vehemently denied the allegations.
On Thursday, July 21, the Special Communications Service of Ukraine detailed how Russian hackers figured out how to broadcast on a Ukrainian radio station. During the brief hack, they spread misinformation about Ukraine’s top leader having fallen ill and the parliament having to take over his duties. Understandably, this caused fear among many citizens looking to Zelenskyy for months for leadership and encouragement as Russia ravages their homeland.
However, Zelenskyy soon published a video of himself, clearly healthy, denying any claims of sickness. He noted how Russia has run repeated propaganda campaigns against him and his citizens, declaring Russia is in charge, and Zelenskyy had fled, or various other falsehoods.
In reference to his health and youth, he emphasized, “with all due respect to old age, 44 is not 70,” calling into the spotlight Russian President Vladimir Putin’s advanced age compared to his own.
"I have never felt as strong as I am now. And bad news for all of you who spread such fake news. I am not alone, there are 40 million of us." https://t.co/6v84OT402J
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 21, 2022
This isn’t the first time Russia has used disinformation campaigns against Ukraine and Zelenskyy as part of its war strategy, and it likely won’t be the last.
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