The impact of pro-Russian 'yacht' propaganda on the US discussion about providing aid to Ukraine

A false claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bought two luxury yachts with American aid money has gained traction online, leading to members of the US Congress discussing military spending being influenced by this disinformation. The claim stated that Zelensky paid $75 million for the yachts, but the Ukrainian government has denied the story, and the ships in question are still listed for sale. Despite being false, the rumor reached Congress members who argue against providing further aid to Ukraine. The false claim originated on a Russia-linked website posing as a Washington-based publication. The website, DC Weekly, spread the rumor through copied and rewritten news stories, many of which are generated by artificial intelligence engines. Researchers suggest that this website is part of a pro-Russia propaganda machine. The false claims about the yachts and other allegations, such as Ukrainian weapons being provided to Hamas, have been spread on various platforms and picked up by pro-Kremlin websites and legitimate African news outlets that accept sponsored content. This disinformation undermines efforts to combat corruption in Ukraine, a long-standing issue that the country must address to join Western institutions. It also demonstrates how false stories supported by fake documents and shadowy social media accounts can overshadow real corruption concerns.