Posted on 11/30/2023 5:25:57 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
THIS IS RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA:
Fact Check: Did Ukraine’s Zelensky Buy a $48 Million Yacht?
Nov 30, 2023 at 2:21 PM EST
Tom Norton
https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-volodymyr-zelensky-olena-zelenska-yacht-purchase-1848520
“Among the many misleading and misinformed claims about how funding for the war in Ukraine has been used, none have been more ridiculous than the allegations of ostentatious spending by the country’s presidential office.
President Volodymyr Zelensky faced similar accusations this week, with an allegation from a right-wing U.K. politician that he had used U.S. funding to buy a yacht worth over $48 million.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on November 4, 2023, in Kyiv. Zelensky was said to have bought a luxury yacht, according to a rumor spread online this week.
THE CLAIM
A post on X (formerly Twitter) by the leader of the U.K.’s right-wing Heritage Party, David Kurten, posted on November 29, 2023, was viewed 253,800 times. It showed a video of a yacht called My Legacy.
Kurten wrote alongside: “Zelensky’s new yacht - purchased with donations from US/UK/EU taxpayers.”
THE FACTS
The recent and false allegations against Olena Zelenska, accusing her of corrupt exorbitance, were each let down by their inconsistencies and lack of evidence. The claim she spent $1.1 million in a Cartier store in New York, for example, neglected to consider that Zelenska was in Canada when her alleged splurge was said to have happened.
THIS NEW CLAIM about President Zelensky is similarly false and shallow in its construction.
For a start, the yacht in the video, My Legacy, is STILL FOR SALE. Its broker, Burgess, confirmed to Newsweek that it was still on the market.
“Burgess can confirm that MY LEGACY is currently for sale, with Burgess as the exclusive listing brokerage house,” a spokesperson said.
“We can confirm that the yacht has not been sold and, therefore, REMAINS FOR SALE.”
Kurten provided NO OTHER EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT HIS ALLEGATION that Zelensky had bought My Legacy.
Newsweek found no evidence elsewhere that Zelensky had bid or bought a yacht. Newsweek has contacted Kurten’s Heritage Party via email for comment.
As Newsweek’s Fact Check team has previously stated, U.S. funding toward Ukraine is HEAVILY AUDITED, with millions spent on auditing alone.
The Office of Inspector General Oversight in the Department of Defense (DOD OIG) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID OIG) both provide audits of the use of funding in Ukraine and investigate complaints and allegations of misuse or attempted misuse of USAID funding and DOD funding.
Part of the USAID OIG’s remit includes examining avenues for fraud and corruption in U.S-funded foreign assistance programs and providing preventive measures.
These include (but are not limited to) verification of cash assistance, using regulated money transfer agents, and using security-locked beneficiary lists before they are disseminated.
To pay for this using U.S. funding, Zelensky WOULD HAVE REQUIRED a major lapse in oversight from those auditing Ukraine and a breakdown of protections in place to ensure funds could not be re-appropriated.
In any case, the company that has brokered the yacht has CONFIRMED IT IS STILL FOR SALE AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE ELSEWHERE that Zelensky has made such a purchase.
THE RULING: FALSE.
Volodymyr Zelensky has not bought a $48.9 million yacht, as confirmed by the broker handling its sale.
There is no evidence a similar purchase has been made elsewhere. Funding to Ukraine is heavily audited and itemized, making it very difficult, if not impossible, for Zelensky to make such a purchase using U.S. contributions.
VIDEO COMMENTARY
30 Nov: Preparation Completed! Ukrainians TO MAKE A MASSIVE ATTACK | War in Ukraine Explained
Reporting from Ukraine
445K subscribers
12-1-2023 12:45 a.m. EST
5:00 Minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaNFr7XmfLo
⚠️ Watch RFU in 20 languages: https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/channels
I am Ukrainian. My country has been invaded by Russia. In this video I will tell you what happened on the six-hundred-forty-fifth day of the war.
Day 645: Nov 30
Today, there are a lot of interesting developments in the Kherson region.
Here, Ukrainian forces secured new positions in the forest, transferred additional reinforcements, and launched an extensive HIMARS raid with the goal of destroying Russian command centers, forces concentrations, and a lot of air defense systems.
Last time, I told you that the weather conditions had deteriorated, significantly affecting the ongoing operations along the river. The bad weather presented the biggest challenges to the reconnaissance teams, both Russian and Ukrainian. However, the limited visibility also gave a lot of opportunities, especially for Ukrainians, because they could conduct rotation of forces and ship supplies of ammunition much more easily. In fact, Russian sources reported that over the last few days, Ukrainians have successfully transferred additional units to the eastern bank of the river and that up to 400 Ukrainian personnel are now operating near Krynky.
Moreover, today, some Russian sources admitted that Ukrainian forces advanced southwest of Krynky and established a foothold in a nearby forest area. Russian analysts started raising the alarm that Ukrainians used the time wisely and are fully prepared to launch the next phase of the offensive operation.
Recently, the weather improved, and the Russian Air Force resumed their airstrikes on the region. Russian sources reported that Russians used FAB-250 bombs to target potential Ukrainian positions. Interestingly, Russian soldiers on the ground expressed their pessimism about the effectiveness of the strikes because they said that the communication between different detachments and especially branches of the military is virtually non-existent, and the strikes do not happen based on the reconnaissance collected by the Russian drone operators. In part, this explains how Ukrainians managed to cross the river and hold the ground so successfully.
It seems like the scale of the offensive operation is going to increase even more because the moment the weather improved, Ukrainians started targeting Russian command centers, forces concentration, and air defense systems relentlessly.
Ukrainian fighters from the thirty-fifth brigade recently released footage showing HIMARS strikes in Korsunka. The video features multiple strikes, and, according to the fighters, they destroyed several houses that Russians used as barracks for soldiers and at least one warehouse with equipment, which could be seen from the rising fire.
Another video shows how the Ukrainian Special Force identified a Russian command and control vehicle near Nova Maiachka. The immediate HIMARS strike destroyed the vehicle together with the Russian commanders.
Ukrainian forces also struck a building in occupied Yuvileine during a Russian occupation law enforcement meeting. Russian sources reported that a Ukrainian HIMARS strike killed four occupation police and injured 18 others.
Ukrainians also focused their attention on the Russian air defense systems. Since Ukrainians are actively using drones in the Kherson region, the destruction of air defense systems is indispensable for ensuring freedom of movement. The first strike happened near Novoselivske. Here, the HIMARS crews destroyed an air defense rocket launcher Buk-M2. Several days prior, Ukrainians also identified and destroyed an even better version of the system, more precisely, an air defense rocket launcher Buk-M3.
Several days ago, Ukrainians also published a video of the training of the marines. The marines were learning how to ford the river in large numbers with heavy equipment. And we saw that Ukrainians have already transferred at least one armored fighting vehicle to Krynky, so it is possible that Ukrainians are looking for the moment when Russian forces are in the weakest and most disorganized position to launch an attack.
Overall, Ukrainians used the bad weather to their advantage and brought in fresh troops to the bridgehead. The moment the weather reasonably improved, Ukrainians conducted a series of devastating strikes on the Russian force concentrations, command centers, and air defense to undermine the Russian defensive capabilities. So, very soon, we may see a lot of interesting developments in the region.
*** Select the 3 horizontal dots to view the Complete Transcript [Below video/ top right corner]
If I remember correctly, in Feb. 2022. Kharkiv had around 300,000 university students. Many came from outside the country, and all basically had the problem of getting home as Russia threatened the city. Students from African countries had a particularly hard time leaving Ukraine and getting home. I wonder if any of the universities and higher education centers have reopened? It certainly seems Ukraine was doing a good job of attracting foreign students, which no doubt has helped their international relations.
Russians have made small gains lately, but at a cost over over 1,000 lost troops per day, plus dozens of pieces of equipment.
I've never understood the obsession our anti-Ukers have with Davydov, he seems to drive you guys crazy to the point of inventing all kinds of nonsense about him.
I checked out the link.
It says nothing about Switzerland.
With many uncensored responses directly from the Russian Ministry of Propaganda sewer pipes.
Sadly, they also produce increased Ukrainian losses, though how many we don't know exactly, normally many fewer than Russian losses.
Brave words from our Democrats.
Historically our Democrats are quick to jump into wars, often with no plans for victory, and then just as quick to turn tail and run when the going get tough.
Slogging it out for the long-haul is not in Democrats' political DNA, especially if they can figure out how to blame Republicans for their defeats.
But at least for now they are sounding brave and hopefully they will cut a deal with House Republicans that also addresses some of our most pressing concerns, i.e., the Southern Border.
And here's another example of our anti-Ukers claiming to know negative things about Davydov which cannot be verified and so must be classified as nothing more than mud-slinging.
As for alleged "propaganda", depending on your definitions, almost anything can be called "propaganda" but in a political sense "propaganda" doesn't just mean opinions or selected facts, but implies outright intentions to dishonestly distort & misrepresent facts to fit a preestablished narrative.
I've seen nothing from Davydov to justify such claims.
Russians are already deep into their latest offensive surrounding Avdiivka, but with the destruction of their Siberian train tunnel, are now in danger of running out of ammo, not that they really need it.
More important, no word yet about the Russians' supply of wooden coffins -- about 1,000 per day needed to bury Russian soldiers killed in their own "Meat Wave" assaults.
However, many dead Russians have been seen left laying where they died, to be walked over by the following "Meat Wave" -- perhaps reflecting on a shortage of coffins?
All of this is believed necessary to give Vlad the Invader something positive to report in his annual December speech to the nation.
Total lies, beginning with Zelenksyy's alleged yacht purchases -- complete Russian propaganda created out of nothing.
The alleged yachts themselves were never sold and you can still buy them yourself if you want to.
The supposed paperwork "proving" the sale was totally fraudulent.
As for Vlad the Invader's Hungarian ally, Victor Orban, he is of course entitled to his opinions.
There are many others with different opinions.
Finally, on the subject of Pres. Zelenskyy, he could well be voted out of office in Ukraine's next constitutionally mandated elections.
Indeed, historically, Ukrainians are very reluctant to reelect their presidents, nearly always chose somebody else.
However, by all accounts Zelenskyy is still hugely popular with Ukrainian voters.
And there's this: Ukraine's constitution requires that elections cannot be held during wartime martial law.
So, constitutionally there cannot be new elections in Ukraine until six months after the war is over.
When will the war be over?
Impossible to say right now.
https://socialblade.com/youtube/c/roadhomemotorcyclevlogs
The SocialBlade web page shows the host country's abbreviated name CH. Click on the abbreviation, CH, and voilà you find -- Switzerland.
Here's assistance for the web for you. Why is CH the Country Code for Switzerland?
Moreover, the white cross on a red background on the SocialBlade site indicates the FLAG of Swizerland as logo. Click on the flag and it also takes one to a page about Swiss vloggers.
Additionally the YouTube "About" page for the channel specifically names -- with a word, not a flag -- Switzerland.
YouTube info:
www.youtube.com/@DenysDavydovCitations with links. It seems you didn't really "check out" the link.
782K subscribers
773 videos
428,342,489 views
Joined Apr 20, 2014
Switzerland
Seems unlikely Ukrainian forces will ever move towards Moscow.
Instead, right now, Russian forces are encircling Avdiivka while Ukrainian forces have gained some ground east of Kherson.
Otherwise, not much change in recent weeks.
Yes, Ukrainian drones have occasionally reached Moscow, though without much reported effect.
Far more spectacular have been recent attacks on the Russian Chelyabinsk Tractor Factory, about 1,200 miles east of Ukraine, and the amazing destruction of a Siberian train tunnel, about 3,000 miles east of Ukraine, making supplies from China more difficult to ship.
That's complete nonsense because those words well describe Russia's Vlad the Invader and his 100% illegal assaults on Ukraine, but not the leader of Ukrainian opposition to the Russian "evil monster".
bimboeruption: "How could he send people well beyond their prime into battle?
And to make the situation even more dangerous for them, it’s winter."
You're kidding, right?
In an existential war for the life of a nation, every adult is a warrior and a soldier who must do what's necessary for victory.
They have no other choice -- unlike Russians, who can always pick up and go home to Russia, if Ukraine loses, they lose their country and, for most, their lives.
bimboeruption: "Why don’t the zeeper warhawks go to Ukraine and fight for their homo-hero?
I’ll buy a 1 way ticket for the first one who volunteers."
Save your money, FRiend.
I'm OK if you want to send it to help out Russia's war wounded, for sure they need it in a bad way.
As for me, I'm an old man, many years ago served three years in West Germany to prevent Vlad the Invader's Old Soviets from doing there what they are now doing in Ukraine.
We proved that "peace through strength" works like a charm.
Ukraine proves what happens when Russia's neighbors look weak and vulnerable.
Today I'm not fit for service in the field, but I can sure as heck still argue the case for Ukrainians right here.
I see that now.
Worldtraveler once upon a time : "Citations with links. It seems you didn't really "check out" the link."
Fair criticism. I did check it but was not familiar with the format and didn't see where it said "Country CH".
So we have now confirmed that Davydov posts from Switzerland, or at least through a Swiss connection.
We might remember that one of Davydov's sponsors is Atlas VPN, which means that he could actually be posting from anywhere in the world, not just Switzerland.
Plus, that still leaves, by my count, about half a dozen ridiculous smears thrown at Davydov, with nothing to confirm them.
So we have now confirmed that Davydov posts from Switzerland, or at least through a Swiss connection.
We might remember that one of Davydov’s sponsors is Atlas VPN, which means that he could actually be posting from anywhere in the world, not just Switzerland.
**********************************************
Possibly Beijing? ;-)
Actually, no. But it is refreshing that you have seen the Atlas VPN advert....
Does a VPN Make You Anonymous? Answer: no.We might remember that this particular VPN also is an income source for the Swiss-resident vlogger. Would you like to look further into the many sources for his income streams -- plural? Lots more documentation is available.Does a 100% anonymous VPN really exist? Still no.
What's the point of a VPN if the other side still knows my location and IP? Question An interesting question.
Discussion on this subject will enable an approximate tally for his monthly income. In Swiss francs, if you like.
AdSense. Donation forums, more than you have seen perhaps. Product endorsement is part of the mix, of course.
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