Key facts
- A fake video falsely claims Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's parents are being investigated for illicit enrichment.
- The video uses Euronews branding and alleges the funds were a gift from European taxpayers.
- Ukrainian authorities and Euronews have debunked the video and its claims.
- The Center for Countering Disinformation attributes the fabrication to Russia's 'Matryoshka' disinformation campaign.
- The campaign seeks to discredit Ukraine and its allies amid Russia's invasion.
A video circulating widely on social media falsely claims that the parents of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are under investigation for illicit enrichment. The clip, which has garnered millions of views, fraudulently uses the branding of Euronews' morning show, 'Europe Today,' to report on the alleged investigation.
The fabricated report claims that Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is investigating Zelenskyy's parents over $11 million (€9.6 million) that supposedly appeared in their bank account in 2025. Some versions of the video suggest the funds were a gift from European taxpayers. It also falsely states that they were detained but later released due to pressure from Zelenskyy's office.
Euronews and Ukrainian authorities have firmly denied the video's authenticity and the veracity of its claims. Euronews stated that it did not produce the video, noting that the narration appears to be AI-generated and that no such story exists on its website or in its reporting. The video also falsely cites an article from Ukrainska Pravda, which cannot be found online.
Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, an affiliate of the National Security and Defence Council, confirmed the story is entirely fabricated. They attributed the disinformation to Russia's 'Matryoshka' campaign, which specializes in creating fake content under the guise of legitimate news outlets to lend it credibility. The agency stated that Russian propaganda frequently releases similar fakes about the Zelenskyy family's wealth to discredit Ukraine internationally and undermine the trust of its allies, particularly amid Russia's ongoing invasion.
Euronews' fact-checking team, The Cube, has previously debunked other fake videos and articles associated with the Matryoshka campaign, including false reports about Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska.