The New York Times Did Not Report Zelenskyy’s Death
The Claim
According to the New York Times, Russian airstrikes killed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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Emerging story
Social media users in the MENA region claimed that the New York Times had reported on the assassination of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a Russian airstrike. The claim started circulating on June 10, 2022.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigation revealed the circulating fake, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not assassinated. He is still alive, and the New York Times made no mention of his death. Misbar could not find any similar reporting on the New York Times' website or social media accounts.
The Ukrainian President's office uploaded Zelenskyy's speech to YouTube on Friday, June 10, 2022, the same day the claim began to circulate.
Also, the most recent New York Times coverage of Zelenskyy was his reception of UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met Ben Wallace
The Ukrainian President met with UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace in Kyiv on June 10, 2022, to discuss British support for Ukraine during the war. Zelenskyy also informed Ben Wallace of the country's urgent need for heavy weapons.
The meeting was also a chance to discuss the issues of security guarantees for the state and an exchange of views on “possible ways to unblock Ukrainian ports to prevent a global food crisis.”
Translated by Khadija Boufous
