Are the claims that Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska is trying to flee the country true?

A video featuring the BBC logo in a deceptive manner was used to spread the claim that Ukraine's First Lady was trying to flee the country on social media.

The Russian disinformation operation once again targeted Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, spreading false claims that she was attempting to escape to Europe due to a "tense relationship" with her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky. There are indications that these claims have no basis in fact and are part of a coordinated disinformation operation supported by Moscow. A fake video bearing the BBC logo, detailing Zelenska's alleged failed escape, emerged earlier this week on X and Telegram, and has since spread on TikTok and Facebook. The voiceover in the clip claims that Zelenska has been planning to flee to an unnamed European country for "six months" and that she was detained by Ukrainian security services after her plans were thwarted. The video appears to have been altered to mimic the look and feel of the BBC. Shayan Sardarizadeh, a senior journalist at the BBC's fact-checking service, stated on X that "the BBC has never published this video clip." Sardarizadeh also added that the video is the work of "a well-known Russian disinformation operation" that uses the logos and branding of major news organizations to publish fake videos disparaging Ukraine. Euroverify has previously identified similar fake videos carrying the Euronews logo. Our fact-checking experts have also monitored activities related to the Moscow-backed 'Doppelgänger' campaign, which clones the websites of well-known media organizations by purchasing similar-looking domain names and imitating their layouts and styles. The Ukrainian Center for Combating Disinformation, a state agency, also detected fake front pages of British newspapers circulating on Russian propaganda channels on Telegram, with headlines such as "Where is Olena Zelenska?" The images have been altered, and such content has never been published by the mentioned news organizations. Claims linked to the known disinformation operation The fake BBC video was first shared by an X account called 'Peacemaker' and had been viewed 500,000 times by the time this article was published. The account, which has around 40,000 followers, is known to fact-checking experts. The account consistently shares unfounded claims related to the war in Ukraine. Euroverify has debunked similar disinformation shared by the same account, such as false claims that Zelenska spent 4.5 million euros on a Bugatti during her visit to Paris. Despite documented evidence, including an investigation conducted by the BBC last July, indicating that the account is part of a Russian disinformation campaign, the account remains active on X. It also carries blue verification check marks indicating it is part of the platform's Premium subscription. Euroverify reached out to X's press team to inquire about what measures they are taking to prevent the spread of disinformation through these accounts but has yet to receive a response.