Ukraine President Zelenskyy debunks Russian propaganda of him fleeing Kyiv

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on his official Instagram on Friday, confirming that he still remains in the capital, Kyiv, and has not fled, as his country remains in conflict with Russia.

Zelenskyy said, “Every two days information comes out that I have fled somewhere — fled from Ukraine, from Kyiv, from my office. As you can see, I am here in my place, Andriy Borisovich (Yermak) is here. Nobody has fled anywhere. Here, we are working”. He jokingly added, “We like jogging, but now we don’t have time for that, for various cardio exercises. Working. Glory to Ukraine”. 

His statement comes amid Russian state media spreading misinformation about the Ukrainian president’s location, in an attempt to demoralize the citizens. Associated Press reported a Russian lawmaker speaking to TASS, Russia’s state-run news agency, saying Zelenskyy had fled Kyiv and moved to the western city of Lviv. 

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However, photos and videos of Zelenskyy rallying support at home, and with foreign countries have become some of the defining images of the Russian invasion. Sarah Oates, a professor at the University of Maryland who studies Russian propaganda, told AP that the Russian propaganda machine is failing against viral images of Ukrainian defence, on social media. 

She said, “They’re flailing. They’ve been doing this for decades and they have a very well oiled delivery system but right now their content just isn’t working”, adding “The Ukrainians may be completely outgunned by traditional military, but they are winning the propaganda war”. 

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Zelenskyy has remained staunch about standing with his people, earlier turning down an offer from the US government to evacuate. He told them that he needed ammunition, not a ride out of the country. At the same time, he’s repeatedly asked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin to engage in talks, so as to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.