A fabricated story involving Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, purchasing a luxury Bugatti Tourbillon sports car for 4.5 million euros during a visit to Paris has been debunked as part of a Russian-linked disinformation campaign. The false narrative claimed that Zelenska used American military aid funds for the purchase, sparking outrage online.
The rumors began on a French-language website, which reported that Olena Zelenska bought the Bugatti during the couple’s visit to Paris for D-Day commemorations in June. The website featured a deepfake video of a purported Bugatti dealership employee announcing the sale. The video and accompanying invoice, filled with inaccuracies and inconsistencies, were swiftly debunked by experts.
Bugatti’s Paris dealership, operated by Autofficina Parigi, firmly denied the transaction and announced legal action against the perpetrators. The dealership pointed out several flaws in the alleged invoice, including incorrect pricing, missing legal details, and outdated graphics.
Despite the swift debunking, the false story gained significant traction online. Influencers spread the disinformation widely on social media, reaching millions of users.
The Center for Countering Disinformation in Ukraine identified the story as part of a Russian propaganda effort aimed at undermining the Ukrainian government and questioning the legitimacy of U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
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