There are lots of memes floating around out there. Many of them are directly from Russian propaganda arms. Most are misleading or outright false.
This image makes several serious claims against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, portraying him as a dictator. I’ll go through the claims one by one, clarifying their context and accuracy.
1. “BANNED the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”
• Misleading: Zelenskyy did not ban the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). However, his government imposed restrictions on religious organizations affiliated with Russia amid the ongoing war with Russia. The Ukrainian government has specifically targeted the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) because of its historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has supported Russia’s invasion. Some UOC clergy have been accused of collaborating with Russian forces.
2. “EXILED Ukrainian Church Leaders”
• Misleading: Some UOC clergy members accused of supporting Russia have been sanctioned or had their citizenship revoked, but there hasn’t been mass exile. Individuals linked to pro-Russian activities have faced legal consequences, but this is due to national security concerns during wartime rather than religious persecution.
3. “BANNED Political Opposition Parties”
• Partially True (Context Matters): Several pro-Russian political parties were suspended in 2022, including the Opposition Platform – For Life, which had strong ties to the Kremlin. This was done under martial law due to concerns about collaboration with Russia. However, opposition parties that are not linked to Russia, such as European Solidarity and Batkivshchyna, continue to operate.
4. “JAILED Political Opposition Leaders”
• Misleading: There have been cases where individuals affiliated with pro-Russian parties faced legal action, but this was primarily based on accusations of treason or aiding the enemy, not simply for political opposition.
5. “BANNED Members of His Own Party”
• Unverified: There are no major reports of Zelenskyy banning his own party members from participation in politics.
6. “JAILED Members of His Own Party”
• Unverified: There are no widely known cases of Zelenskyy imprisoning members of his own party without due process.
7. “BANNED Media Who Criticized Him”
• Misleading: Ukraine has imposed wartime restrictions on media, but there is still active criticism of Zelenskyy within Ukraine. Independent media outlets continue to operate, and there are debates within the country regarding his leadership. Some Russian-affiliated media were restricted due to security concerns.
8. “JAILED Media Members Who Opposed Him”
• Unverified: There are no credible reports of journalists being imprisoned solely for opposing Zelenskyy. However, martial law has increased government oversight of media, and there have been accusations of pressure on journalists, particularly in cases of national security concerns.
9. “BANNED All Who Did Not Agree With Him”
• False: Ukraine remains a democracy, and there is active political opposition, independent journalism, and public criticism of Zelenskyy.
10. “JAILED Anyone Who Opposed Him in Ukraine”
• False: Many opposition politicians, activists, and critics continue to operate freely. Some individuals accused of collaborating with Russia have been prosecuted, but this is based on national security concerns rather than political dissent.
Conclusion
This image presents a highly misleading and propagandistic portrayal of Zelenskyy. While Ukraine has taken measures against pro-Russian entities and individuals accused of treason, especially during wartime, the country still functions as a democracy. Opposition parties (except pro-Russian ones), independent media, and criticism of the government continue to exist. The claims in the image align with Russian propaganda, which seeks to discredit Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s leadership.
