Elon Musk has published a Tweet to his 218 million followers on Twitter/X that aligns with and echoes Russian disinformation narratives targeting Ukraine and President Zelensky.
The Claims:
- Ukrainian polls showing Zelensky’s approval are not credible because they are allegedly controlled by Zelensky himself.
- Zelensky is refusing to hold elections because he knows he would lose in a landslide and has allegedly seized control of all Ukrainian media.
- The Ukrainian people despise Zelensky, and that’s why he won’t hold elections.
- The Ukrainian government is corrupt and profiting off the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers, implying that Western aid fuels “graft” rather than legitimate defense.
- Donald Trump is right to ignore Zelensky and pursue peace independently.
The Facts:
Elections in Ukraine were postponed due to war, not Zelensky’s decision to avoid defeat.
Ukraine remains under martial law as a direct result of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a legal condition that prohibits national elections during wartime. Conducting a free and fair election under these circumstances—while millions of Ukrainians are displaced and large portions of the country remain under Russian occupation—is not only logistically unfeasible but legally impossible. Recognizing these challenges, the United States and European allies have backed Ukraine’s decision to postpone elections, acknowledging that any vote held under wartime conditions would lack both legitimacy and security.
There is no evidence that Zelensky’s approval ratings are fabricated.
While Zelensky’s approval ratings have fluctuated, independent polling by Gallup, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), and Rating Group has consistently shown strong public support for him, particularly compared to pre-war levels. These polls, conducted by reputable Ukrainian and international organizations, operate independently of Zelensky’s administration and provide verifiable data that directly contradicts claims of widespread public discontent.
Ukraine has not seized “ALL” media.
Like any nation at war, Ukraine has implemented unified wartime messaging to ensure national security and counter disinformation. However, independent and opposition media continue to operate freely, with investigative outlets such as Ukrainska Pravda and NV regularly publishing critical reports on the government. This ongoing scrutiny proves that Ukraine maintains a diverse and independent media landscape. Claims that Zelensky has “seized control” of all media are a distorted Kremlin talking point designed to falsely portray Ukraine as undemocratic.
The “corrupt graft machine” narrative aligns with Russian propaganda.
Russia has repeatedly sought to undermine international support for Ukraine by portraying its government as irredeemably corrupt. While corruption remains a challenge, as it does in many countries, Western audits of military aid have found no evidence of systemic theft or large-scale diversion of weapons or funds. Ukrainian soldiers are not fighting to enrich elites—they are defending their nation’s very existence. The notion that their sacrifices merely fuel corruption is a deeply cynical Kremlin narrative designed to weaken Western resolve and erode support for Ukraine’s resistance.
Trump’s stance on Ukraine aligns with Russian interests.
Russia has consistently worked to erode international support for Ukraine by depicting its government as hopelessly corrupt. While corruption is a challenge, as it is in many nations, rigorous Western audits of military aid have found no evidence of systemic theft or large-scale diversion of weapons or funds. Ukrainian soldiers are not fighting to benefit oligarchs—they are risking their lives to defend their homeland. Framing their sacrifice as a tool for corruption is a calculated Kremlin narrative, designed to sow doubt, weaken Western resolve, and undermine support for Ukraine’s fight for survival.
Narrative Context:
Elon Musk’s tweet closely aligns with Russian disinformation narratives about Ukraine’s legitimacy, Zelensky’s leadership, and the role of Western support. While Musk may not be intentionally spreading Kremlin propaganda, his statements mirror well-documented Russian influence efforts aimed at:
🎯 Undermining Ukraine’s government.
🎯 Weakening international support for Ukraine.
🎯 Promoting narratives that benefit Russia’s strategic goals in the war.
This kind of messaging is precisely what Russian information operations seek to inject into Western discourse—not through direct state propaganda, but by amplifying it via influential voices in the West.
