Claims have been circulating online that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly purchased a private nuclear bunker in Nova Scotia, Canada, worth $42 million. However, the story has been identified as another case of fabricated information.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, the false report was published on a specially created website designed to imitate the well-known Canadian newspaper Toronto Sun.
Investigators found that the domain of the fraudulent website had been registered just eight days before the fake article appeared. This is a common characteristic of disinformation operations in which deceptive websites impersonate established media outlets.
To make the story appear credible, those behind the fabrication used photographs of a private property that is actually being converted into a hotel. The images have no connection to the alleged purchase by the Ukrainian president.
There is no documentary evidence supporting the alleged transaction. The claim that Zelenskyy purchased the bunker has not been substantiated by official sources or relevant public records.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, the methods used to spread this story are consistent with the Russian disinformation campaign known as Doppelgänger.
As part of this operation, fake websites are created to closely resemble well-known international news outlets, often using similar domain names. These platforms publish fabricated stories in an attempt to make them appear as legitimate journalism.
The Center also notes that it has previously documented similar disinformation narratives falsely claiming that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and members of his family purchased expensive properties abroad.
The Center for Countering Disinformation urges readers to carefully verify the original sources of sensational claims, especially those involving major financial transactions and circulating through unfamiliar websites.