Inflating Seoul’s criticism into an accusation of Zelenskyy’s “betrayal”

What it claims

The disclosure that two North Korean prisoners were transferred to South Korea is cast as a “leak” and proof of Zelenskyy’s personal irresponsibility. President Lee Jae-myung’s critical reaction is inflated into a picture of a diplomatic rupture and Seoul’s future refusal to support Ukraine. The Presidential Office said that only the fact of the transfer, without details, had been made public.

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 exposed a secret South Korean operation for personal publicity and put the country’s security at risk.

  Украина. Спецоперация. Мониторинг СВО, 25 Sept 2026 · Archived copy

• The disclosure of the prisoners’ transfer shows that Ukraine disregarded an agreement with Seoul and harmed these people’s families.

  Украина. Спецоперация. Мониторинг СВО, 25 Sept 2026 · Archived copy

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Goal

To sow doubts among Western policymakers and Ukrainian society about the Ukrainian leadership’s diplomatic reliability and the viability of further South Korean support for Ukraine.

Techniques used

• Exaggeration or MinimisationA critical post by South Korea’s president is retold as proof that Zelenskyy destroyed relations with Seoul and deprived Ukraine of future assistance.
• Name Calling or LabelingThe disclosure of the transfer is labeled a “leak”, while Zelenskyy is equated with a traitor acting for personal gain.

The real grievance it exploits

Concern about risks to Ukraine’s international support and about possible diplomatic mistakes in matters affecting people’s safety.

How to counter

• Reframe: Criticism of how something was communicated is not proof of a rupture between states. Check whether a message separates a specific objection from sweeping predictions that support will end.
• Prebunk: Labels such as “leak” or “betrayal” often replace checking the scope of what was disclosed. Compare the emotional accusation with what was actually made public.

Sources (all time)

• Украина. Спецоперация. Мониторинг СВОTier 115,802 subscribers
  3 posts · 25 Sept 2026

  • 25 Sept · t.me/MonitoringUA/95417
  • 25 Sept · Archived copy
  • 25 Sept · Archived copy
• ЗеРадаTier 1425,269 subscribers
  1 post · 25 Sept 2026

  • 25 Sept · t.me/ZeRada1/32385
• Политика СтраныTier 1332,537 subscribers
  1 post · 26 Sept 2026

  • 26 Sept · t.me/stranaua/249703