Introduction: Unraveling the Truth Behind Social Media Misinformation
In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, false and misleading information has inundated social media platforms, spreading confusion and falsehoods about the conflict. One popular subject of these falsehoods revolves around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's alleged property purchases. However, a recent claim suggesting that Zelenskyy bought his parents an $8 million mansion has been proven false. Let's delve into the facts and debunk the misinformation.
The Claim: Zelenskyy's Alleged $8 Million Villa Purchase
An Instagram post circulating on October 5th propagated the claim that Zelenskyy had recently acquired an extravagant $8 million villa for his parents, complete with a saltwater pool and three new vehicles. The post included an image showcasing a lavish estate, creating an aura of opulence. Another Instagram post on October 16th repeated the same accusations, this time attributing the claim to singer-songwriter Kid Rock.
Falsehood Revealed: No Evidence of Zelenskyy's Purchase
Both of these posts, however, are completely unfounded. There is no substantiating evidence that Zelenskyy indulged in such an extravagant purchase for his parents. In fact, the property depicted in the posts is still listed for sale on the renowned Sotheby's international website.
No Evidence of Zelenskyy's Involvement
Zelenskyy did not purchase the house displayed in the Instagram posts. The photograph used in these misleading posts initially appeared in a Sotheby's listing for a 2.47-acre home and estate located in Kyiv, Ukraine. This property, priced at $15 million, remains available for purchase on the Sotheby's International Realty website. Oksana Zinchenko, the real estate agent associated with the listing, confirmed via email that the property is still on the market.
The viral claim seems to have originated from a September 26th post on Gettr, a social media platform created by Jason Miller, a former spokesperson for former President Donald Trump. The Gettr post was attributed to an account that identifies itself as a "Kid Rock fan page." However, it is important to note that there is no Gettr account listed among Kid Rock's official social media accounts, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Fact Check: Kid Rock's Involvement Debunked
While singer-songwriter Kid Rock has been known to express his political views on social media, there is no evidence to suggest that he made any statements regarding Zelenskyy's alleged multimillion-dollar property purchase for his parents. The claim lacks credibility and should be disregarded.
Zelenskyy, like other Ukrainian government officials, is legally obligated to annually disclose his income and financial assets. According to the Kyiv Post, Zelenskyy declared an income of $700,000 in 2021, along with seven apartments jointly owned with his wife. These declarations do not align with the extravagant property claims attributed to him.
Our Rating: False
Based on thorough research and analysis, we confidently rate the claim that Zelenskyy purchased an $8 million mansion for his parents as FALSE. No concrete evidence supports this allegation. The house depicted in the Instagram posts is indeed a real property in Kyiv, but it remains on sale through the Sotheby's International website.
Our Fact-Check Sources:
- USA TODAY, Feb. 23, Russia declares war, launches attack in Ukraine; explosions reported
- USA TODAY, April 14, Fact check roundup: What's true and what's false about the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Sotheby's Realty, Accessed Oct. 27, Kyiv Sea Casa
- KidRock.com, Accessed Oct. 27
- USA TODAY, Jan. 27, From 'Bawitdaba' to 'Let's Go Brandon': Kid Rock's history of hits and political controversy
- Politifact, May 2, No proof that Ukraine President Zelenskyy owns a $35 million home in Florida
- Politifact, Oct. 17, Social media post critical of Zelenskyy came from Kid Rock fan account, not the artist
- Oksana Zinchenko, Nov. 2, Email and LinkedIn exchange
- Aleoa Pomerko, Nov. 11, Email exchange
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