The claim that BBC News labelled a photo of Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, as the “next president of Ukraine” is unfounded and constitutes disinformation. The screenshot, purportedly taken from a BBC News broadcast, has been faked.
Social media users have circulated posts claiming that BBC News ran Zaluzhnyi’s photo with the caption ‘next president of Ukraine’. Pro-Kremlin propaganda commentators use this to mockingly suggest Western control over Ukraine’s internal affairs, implying that even its leadership is decided from abroad. These posts are usually accompanied by a doctored screenshot purporting to be from BBC News.
In fact, there is no evidence that the BBC has ever used such a caption. There is no mention of it in official BBC content or in any other credible media.
The BBC did publish an article in the summer discussing the possibility of elections in Ukraine. However, the article is not accompanied by a video segment, and no such video exists on the official BBC News platforms. In the written piece, the BBC refers to Valerii Zaluzhnyi as “a potential challenger to the president” and notes that he commented on rumours of a possible presidential run in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
“My position hasn’t changed. While the war continues, we all need to work on preserving the country rather than thinking about elections. I do not comment on various rumours,” Zaluzhnyi said.
Russian propaganda often uses the credibility of respected international media – including the BBC – to legitimise disinformation. StopFake has previously exposed similar examples in articles such as Fake: Ukraine Lacks Funding for Producing Fakes — BBC/Bellingcat, Fake: Paris Metro Deserted Due to Risk of Terrorist Attacks Says BBC and Fake: Yermak Payed TIME for a Spot in the 2024 Most Influential List — Bellingcat.
