Deepfake video of Zelensky dancing in red suit spreads online

"Man, just send him couple of billion," says a January 3, 2024 post from "Lord Bebo," an account on X, formerly Twitter, that has previously amplified other misinformation.

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Screenshot from X taken January 12, 2024

The video, which purports to show Zelensky prancing around a festively decorated room in a tight red ensemble with gold applique, spread across X and other platforms such as Instagram and TikTok as Russia's invasion of Ukraine raged into 2024 with Western aid to Ukraine faltering. One TikTok received more than 9 million views.

Similar posts spread in other languages, including Spanish.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised sustained support for Ukraine in a January 16 meeting with Zelensky, even as members of the Republican Party, which controls the House of Representatives, are holding up a new aid package as they press for tougher action against migrants entering the United States.

The ongoing war and Zelensky's efforts to secure international aid have made him a frequent target of disinformation seeking to undermine his credibility, including previous videos and images that were doctored to portray him as a neo-Nazi, drug user or corrupt leader.

One previously circulated video was altered to make it look like Zelensky had been filmed belly dancing in a glittering costume; in reality, the Ukrainian leader's face was digitally edited onto the body of Argentine dancer Pablo Acosta, who told AFP he was the man performing in the clip.

The video purporting to show Zelensky dancing in a red suit is similarly manipulated.

Reverse image and keyword searches revealed the original video posted to TikTok in October 2020 by a Russian-language user named “@Vusaaal" (archived here).

The man in the original footage is not Zelensky and, unlike the Ukrainian president, has no facial hair. He is also dancing to different music than what can be heard in the altered version shared online.

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Screenshots from X and TikTok taken January 16, 2024, with elements outlined by AFP

The TikTok user, who according to a corresponding Instagram account is a reality show participant, has reposted the clip multiple times over the years (archived here and here).

He has also uploaded numerous other videos of himself dancing, including several recordings that appear to show the same event and others in which he is donning a similar red suit (archived here, here, here, here and here).

Zelensky worked in the entertainment industry as an actor and comedian before entering public service.

In another video from 2014 parodying a music video by a Ukrainian boy band, the then-comic can be seen dancing in high heels, a crop top and tight pants, the fact-checking outlet Snopes reported.

AFP has previously debunked other misinformation about Russia's war on Ukraine here.