DISINFO: Ukraine is a Nazi regime that certainly won't be de-nazified by elections
SUMMARY
Ukraine is a Nazi regime, whose latest and not exclusive representative is Zelenskyy. This regime would certainly not be de-nazified by a simple election that is likely to result in a military man coming to power: General Zaluzhnyi and Lieutenant Colonel Budanov, respectively. In Ukraine, there are currently no other political representatives capable of asserting themselves. This is because the democratic political spectrum has been silenced.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claims that Ukraine is a Nazi state, targeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and likely candidates for future elections. This narrative resurfaced after Zelenskyy stated on 10 December 2025 that Ukraine is 'ready for elections' if partners guarantee security.
Zelensky's five-year term as president was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended in Ukraine since martial law was declared after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Elections could be held in the next 60 to 90 days if security for the vote was guaranteed with the help of the US and other allies.
These messages aim to undermine Ukraine’s democracy and its statehood.
Russia has always perceived Zelensky as an obstacle to its aggressive goals in Ukraine, even since before the invasion. One of the targets of the invasion in February 2022 was the murder of Zelenskyy and the decapitation of the Ukrainian government to install a pro-Russian leadership.
These messages aim to undermine Ukraine’s democracy and statehood.
Russia has long seen President Zelenskyy as an obstacle to its goals in Ukraine, even before the invasion. One aim of the February 2022 invasion was to kill Zelenskyy and remove Ukraine’s government to install a pro-Russian leadership.
Now that Zelenskyy has said elections could take place if the US and other allies provide guarantees, the Kremlin is targeting likely candidates such as Generals Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Kyrylo Budanov.
Zaluzhnyi was dismissed as Commander-in-Chief in February 2024 and later appointed Ambassador to the UK. There is speculation about his possible entry into politics, but there is no evidence that either he or Budanov hold or promote neo-Nazi or far-right views. Both have served within Ukraine’s official, democratically aligned state and military structures.
See here for an example of our previous debunks on the claim that Ukraine is a Nazi state.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Zelenskyy is illegitimate, his official term expired in May 2024, that Zelenskyy is a dictator, that Current Ukrainian leadership no longer represents the interests of the people, that Ukraine is governed by an illegal and cruel dictatorial regime.