The Claim:
The Russian Embassy in South Africa has amplified a false story about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy had purchased Highgrove House mansion from the British royal Family, for 20 million pounds.
The Facts:
There is no evidence to support this story or claim. The property described in this story has not been sold according to any publicly available information. The story was published by one source, a UK based outlet named The London Crier. According to DNS records, the website for this platform was created on March 26, 2024 – just days before this claim was posted.
Furthermore, Russian agents who operate this The London Crier website, have also left traces of Russian language stories on the website- such as this one.
Given the amplification of this story by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we believe that this is likely a Russian government information operation.
Narrative Context:
This story fits in into Russia’s strategy of deploying false accusations of corruption against Ukraine with the aim of eroding western support and trust in Ukraine’s govenment and President Zelenskyy.
Specifically this strategy aims to:
Undermining Trust and Legitimacy: False accusations of corruption are aimed at undermining trust in the Ukrainian government both domestically and internationally. By portraying Ukrainian officials as corrupt, Russia seeks to delegitimize the Ukrainian government, making it appear incapable of governing effectively or deserving of international support.
Strategic Distraction and Division: By accusing Ukraine of corruption, Russia attempts to distract from its own actions and policies in the region. This strategy is designed to shift international focus away from Russian aggression and onto alleged Ukrainian misconduct. Additionally, it seeks to sow division within Ukraine and between Ukraine and its allies by exacerbating political and social tensions.
Psychological Warfare: False accusations can also serve as a form of psychological warfare, aimed at demoralizing Ukrainian citizens and officials. By constantly facing unfounded accusations of corruption, Ukrainian society may experience fatigue and skepticism towards their own government, weakening the national resolve against Russian aggression.
Justification for Military and Political Actions: Russia uses allegations of corruption as a pretext for its military and political actions in Ukraine, presenting itself as addressing or responding to these supposed issues. This is part of a broader narrative Russia constructs to rationalize its presence and activities in Ukraine to both domestic and international audiences.
The ultimate goal is to weaken Ukraine’s position, both internally and in the eyes of the international community, thereby advancing Russia’s geopolitical interests in the region.
