By EUvsDisinfo
Russia is the world’s largest disinformation spreader, and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) is one of its main tools for eroding trust and sowing doubt in liberal democracies. These long-term operations are the Kremlin’s way of shaping opinions, creating confusion, and generally causing havoc. Since 2022, Moscow’s primary goal has been to challenge Western values and justify Russia’s imperialism and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian FIMI is deeply intertwined with its military strategy, information warfare has become as critical as its military might. While bombs fall on Ukrainian cities, disinformation works to destabilise societies, erode support for Ukraine, and blur the line between truth and manipulation. These campaigns don’t just confuse, they aim to weaken the will of Western democracies to support Ukraine and uphold international law. Together, Russia’s military and informational assault seeks to break the resolve of its adversaries.
Russian narratives come in many forms and are tailored to diverse audiences. One of their most common strategy is the spread of conspiracy theories that blame the West or Ukraine for the most absurd things imaginable.
Below, we look at five of these absurdities and debunk the claims behind them:
1. Jewellery stolen from the Louvre was found among the assets of a Ukrainian oligarch
In this story, a corruption probe in Ukraine suddenly turns into a Parisian art-heist sequel: supposedly, jewellery stolen from the Louvre’s historic collection turned up among the belongings of a Ukrainian businessman – a plot twist designed to feel dramatic and incriminating. But no French or Ukrainian authority has confirmed any connection to the museum, and no reputable media outlet has reported such a finding. Instead, the story adds a fictional layer to a real investigation in order to imply that Ukraine is uniquely corrupt.
2. Zelenskyy’s wife bought one of the most expensive sports cars in the world
This story suggests that Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska purchased a €4.5 million Bugatti during an official trip. The story even came with a forged invoice and a conveniently timed “dealership employee” video – which turned out to be AI-generated. Bugatti has confirmed that no such sale took place, and there is no evidence behind any part of the narrative. As with many such claims, the aim is less about the car and more about the insinuation: that Ukrainian leaders live lavishly while asking the world for support.
3. EU citizens will eat worms due to anti-Russian sanctions
In this Kremlin fairy tale, EU sanctions have supposedly turned Europe into a wasteland where the only thing left to eat is… worms. In reality, supermarkets are full, people are still buying bread and pasta, and insect-based snacks are just a quirky food trend that existed long before sanctions. Naturally, this false story attempts to make sanctions on Russia look disastrous and stir up panic and anger toward EU policies.
4. UK and US held secret elections of Ukraine’s president in the Alps
According to this claim, British and American officials quietly travelled to an Alpine resort to choose Ukraine’s president. The only thing missing is a photo of everyone voting in the hotel spa, wearing bathrobes. As usual, there is zero evidence. It simply recycles the idea that Ukrainians don’t really choose their leaders, foreign powers do. In reality, Ukraine’s presidents are elected by Ukrainian citizens in open, internationally monitored elections – Moscow’s fever dream. This claim just replays an old Kremlin theme: that Ukraine isn’t really independent and its politics are run by the West. Read more in our article Why is the Kremlin so hung up on smearing Zelenskyy?
5. Zelensky bought Hitler’s villa
This narrative returns us to the Alps with a claim that President Zelenskyy purchased Hitler’s former retreat. The story relies not on evidence – there is none – but on the shock value of associating Ukraine’s democratic leadership with historical extremism. In truth, the villa belongs to a German public foundation and is not for sale. The narrative is another attempt to impose the Kremlin’s favourite label – “Nazi” – on anyone who resists Russia’s aggression.
Why these wild stories matter
They may sound too strange to believe, but they serve a purpose. Outlandish tales create noise, exhaust people, and make it harder to tell truth from fiction. And while we’re all busy laughing at the extremes, quieter, more convincing falsehoods slip through. That’s how FIMI campaigns work: distract with the bizarre, influence with the subtle.
What is EUvsDisinfo?
EUvsDisinfo, part of the European External Action Service’s East StratCom Task Force, was founded in 2015 to track, analyse, and debunk pro-Kremlin disinformation. We unpack how false stories spread, who they target, and what they aim to achieve.
Curious? Explore our database and dive deeper into how disinformation really works.
By EUvsDisinfo
