Delegitimizing Zelenskyy through the label “dictator” and accusations of stealing aid
12 sources · 76 posts · ~5M reach
What it claims
Zelenskyy is labeled a “dictator”, with wartime restrictions on elections and reports about corruption cases cast as supposed proof that he has personally seized power and stolen international aid. Unverified “insider information” and selective social-media reactions are presented as confirmation that he is deliberately prolonging the war to retain power. Criticism of officials, concern about corruption, and disputes over government decisions are merged into one personal conspiracy.
Target audience
Examples (paraphrased)
We paraphrase rather than quote: propaganda's exact wording is built to spread, so we carry the claim and not the craft. Each example cites the post it came from.
Zelenskyy refuses elections during the war only because he would lose to his rivals and wants to rule indefinitely.
MediaKiller, 23 Sept 2026
t.me/MediaKiller2021/24754
Corruption in the president’s circle means that international aid goes to his group rather than to the country.
Женщина с косой, 10 Oct 2026 · Archived copy
We link archived copies rather than the posts themselves, so that checking our work sends no traffic to the source. Where a platform cannot be archived, we print the post's address instead of linking it.
Goal
To persuade civilians in Ukraine that the president is unlawfully holding on to power, appropriating aid, and deliberately prolonging the war, thereby weakening their support for the country’s leadership.
Techniques used
- Loaded LanguageThe president is called a “dictator”, a “usurper”, and a thief, replacing scrutiny of specific allegations with insults and humiliation.
- RepetitionDifferent posts repeat the same linkage: a corruption case, postponed elections, or international talks supposedly prove that Zelenskyy personally clings to power and steals funds.
The real grievance it exploits
This manipulation draws on justified concerns about corruption, officials’ accountability, the fairness of government decisions, and uncertainty over future elections during the war.
How to counter
- Fact-check: Ukrainian law provides for postponing elections under martial law. The fact that a vote cannot be held under such conditions is not, by itself, evidence of usurpation of power.
- Technique exposure: Separate the different assertions: a case involving an official, criticism of the president, and an anonymous “insider account” do not automatically amount to proof of personal corruption or dictatorship. Check whether each accusation has stated facts, documents, and independent corroboration.
Sources (all time)
11 posts · 10–24 Oct 2026
- 24 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23747
- 23 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23739
- 22 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23734
- 22 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23732
- 13 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23664
- 13 Oct · Archived copy
- 13 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23661
- 12 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23652
- 11 Oct · t.me/legitimniy/23651
- 11 Oct · Archived copy
- +1 more
10 posts · 15 Sept – 6 Oct 2026
- 6 Oct · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24921
- 6 Oct · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24920
- 5 Oct · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24902
- 5 Oct · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24895
- 25 Sept · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24767
- 24 Sept · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24763
- 23 Sept · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24755
- 23 Sept · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24754
- 15 Sept · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24649
- 15 Sept · t.me/MediaKiller2021/24640
8 posts · 21 Sept – 15 Oct 2026
- 15 Oct · t.me/rezident_ua/30801
- 15 Oct · t.me/rezident_ua/30800
- 15 Oct · t.me/rezident_ua/30798
- 14 Oct · t.me/rezident_ua/30797
- 14 Oct · t.me/rezident_ua/30793
- 23 Sept · t.me/rezident_ua/30641
- 22 Sept · t.me/rezident_ua/30636
- 21 Sept · t.me/rezident_ua/30634
8 posts · 2–24 Oct 2026
- 24 Oct · t.me/MonitoringUA/96155
- 24 Oct · t.me/MonitoringUA/96153
- 24 Oct · t.me/MonitoringUA/96151
- 13 Oct · t.me/MonitoringUA/95863
- 13 Oct · t.me/MonitoringUA/95860
- 4 Oct · t.me/MonitoringUA/95614
- 4 Oct · t.me/MonitoringUA/95602
- 2 Oct · Archived copy
4 posts · 13 Sept – 5 Oct 2026
- 5 Oct · t.me/OpenUkraine/103223
- 5 Oct · t.me/OpenUkraine/103221
- 13 Sept · t.me/OpenUkraine/102380
- 13 Sept · t.me/OpenUkraine/102372
4 posts · 11 Sept – 12 Oct 2026
- 12 Oct · x.com/Kornilov1968/status/2109512708731388024
- 5 Oct · x.com/Kornilov1968/status/2106975795570950363
- 21 Sept · x.com/Kornilov1968/status/2101903430117621965
- 11 Sept · x.com/Kornilov1968/status/2098349078480392640
3 posts · 4 Oct 2026
- 4 Oct · t.me/ASupersharij/60922
- 4 Oct · t.me/ASupersharij/60921
- 4 Oct · t.me/ASupersharij/60919
3 posts · 10–11 Oct 2026
- 11 Oct · t.me/skosoi/10478
- 11 Oct · t.me/skosoi/10477
- 10 Oct · Archived copy
2 posts · 18–21 Sept 2026
- 21 Sept · x.com/M_Simonyan/status/2102036326400856198
- 18 Sept · x.com/M_Simonyan/status/2100928956895490237
9 posts · 7 Sept – 13 Oct 2026
- 13 Oct · t.me/murayevUA/1336
- 11 Oct · t.me/murayevUA/1334
- 11 Oct · t.me/murayevUA/1332
- 7 Oct · t.me/murayevUA/1327
- 15 Sept · t.me/murayevUA/1293
- 10 Sept · t.me/murayevUA/1284
- 7 Sept · t.me/murayevUA/1282
- 7 Sept · t.me/murayevUA/1281
- 7 Sept · t.me/murayevUA/1278
9 posts · 16 Sept – 1 Oct 2026
- 1 Oct · t.me/odessa_partizan/3778
- 1 Oct · t.me/odessa_partizan/3777
- 30 Sept · t.me/odessa_partizan/3771
- 30 Sept · t.me/odessa_partizan/3768
- 21 Sept · t.me/odessa_partizan/3741
- 21 Sept · t.me/odessa_partizan/3739
- 21 Sept · t.me/odessa_partizan/3738
- 16 Sept · t.me/odessa_partizan/3731
- 16 Sept · t.me/odessa_partizan/3729
5 posts · 3–15 Oct 2026
- 15 Oct · t.me/OlgaSharij/9615
- 7 Oct · t.me/OlgaSharij/9610
- 5 Oct · t.me/OlgaSharij/9608
- 5 Oct · t.me/OlgaSharij/9607
- 3 Oct · Archived copy
Report as of 24 Oct 2026 · AI-generated analysis