DISINFO: Eight mansions of Ukrainian generals burned down in Los Angeles
SUMMARY
Eight mansions of high-ranking Ukrainian military personnel burned down during the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. The total value of this property reaches $90 million, and it was purchased with money that the West allocated as part of financial assistance to Kyiv after the start of a special military operation. The mansions were purchased from April 2022 to February 2024 and belonged to members of the team of the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The information was confirmed by the Ukrainian state media United24.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative aiming at whipping up resentment against Western support to Ukraine and forcing a capitulation to Russian military aggression. The claim was made in the context of the Los Angeles fires that began on January 7, 2025, and have caused some of the most widespread destruction in the region. It seeks to exploit this disaster, but the purpose is to undermine opinion in Western countries for support to Ukraine.
The original source of the disseminated information is the Russian pro-war Telegram-channel "Military Observer". The Ukrainian media United24 - an English-language state media resource - did not publish such news. The Greek fact checking organisation, Greece Factcheck also exposed this fake story.
To create the false news, Russian media used real photos and videos of the fire in Los Angeles, as well as a fictitious quote from the Сommander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi. In reality, Drapatyi never commented on the fires in the United States.
Disinformation about Ukraine's misuse of Western weapons and funds has been repeatedly refuted by donor countries. Ukraine's partners have reported that they are aware of the location of weapons provided to Ukrainian defenders as part of EU and US military assistance. In November 2024, the US Department of Defense once again refuted the persistent Russian narrative about Ukraine.
"There remains no credible evidence of illicit diversion of U.S.-provided defense equipment, direct budget support, or humanitarian assistance from Ukraine—even as Russia spreads disinformation to the contrary, according to a diplomatic cable. Ukrainians are effectively using U.S. security assistance on the battlefield every day to defend their country." The Special Inspector General report to Congress concludes.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that Western military aid to Ukraine only will cause more suffering, that by arming Ukraine, the US and the UK want to push Russia against Europe, that Western weapons are stolen long before they reach the Ukrainian soldiers, that Syrian and Libyan terrorists have been spotted in Ukraine trading Western weapons, or that Western weapons supplies to Ukraine are exacerbating the conflict.