Former Navy NCO running pro-Russian social account under investigation for helping spread classified documents
FOX NewsNov 29, 2022
Report: Zelenskyy 'Yacht' Story Influenced US-Ukraine Aid Debate
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The Facts
Rumors that Volodymyr Zelenskyy bought two luxury yachts — called Lucky Me and My Legacy — with aid money have reportedly been fueled by a website created by a former US Marine who is now living in Russia.
The campaign was successful despite the now-debunked claim that Mr. Zelenskyy paid $75M for two yachts by using two advisers as go-betweens. The story went viral and was echoed on social media by Republican congressmen who have delayed any decision on further aid to Ukraine until next year.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Corruption has plagued Ukraine for a long time, but the truth is that, even under the stress of the war, everyone from Pres. Zelenskyy down to the regular citizenry has been cracking down on money laundering and bribery. Zelenskyy and his constituents not only wish to rid their society of corruption for moral reasons but know that if they don't, they won't receive the necessary funding from the West. Pro-Russia politicians in the West are ignoring the progress made in Ukraine to undermine further US assistance.
Establishment-critical narrative
One claim allegedly being proven false doesn't mean the funds sent to Ukraine have been necessary or clean. Among the tens of billions in aid packages just as of June, billions went toward paying off Ukraine's World Bank debt, millions went to a Polish think tank and a Canada-based Ukrainian TV channel, and another $1.5M went to a private equity firm to relocate Ukrainian business in Georgia. The entire picture of significant Ukrainian corruption needs to be further explored, regardless of the outcome of this story.