Portraying Volodymyr Zelenskyy as dependent on “ultra-nationalists”

What it claims

The President of Ukraine is portrayed as a hostage to radical forces and military units that supposedly dictate state policy. Manipulators claim that fear of a coup forces the national leadership to glorify controversial historical figures and ruin relations with key allies.

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 is supposedly forced to obey “Azov” veterans who threaten to overthrow him if he attempts a peaceful settlement.

  Анатолий Шарий, 22 Jul 2026

  t.me/ASupersharij/57505

• The Ukrainian president supposedly personally honors UPA leaders to appease radicals, even at the cost of breaking the friendship with Poland.

  Анатолий Шарий, 22 Jul 2026

  t.me/ASupersharij/57505

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Goal

To undermine the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government in the eyes of Western partners and provoke internal division by framing the military as a threat to democracy.

Techniques used

• Name Calling or LabelingUse of labels like “ultra-nationalists,” “white supremacists,” and comparisons to SS divisions.
• Loaded LanguageUse of emotionally charged language about “mass killings” and “destroying relations” to amplify the effect.

The real grievance it exploits

The narrative exploits Western societal sensitivity to radicalism and complex chapters of shared history, particularly Polish-Ukrainian relations.

How to counter

• Technique exposure: Note the use of historical parallels to WWII: this is a classic technique to dehumanize Ukrainian defenders by equating them with Nazism.
• Reframe: Ukraine remains a democratic state where the military is subordinate to civilian leadership, and foreign policy is based on national interests and strengthening alliances.

Sources (all time)

• Анатолий ШарийTier 11,641,018 subscribers
  1 post · 22 Jul 2026

  • 22 Jul · t.me/ASupersharij/57505