In the midst of US debates over Ukraine aid‚ a controversial documentary series about Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit social media. Created by Ben Swann a self-styled independent journalist with ties to Russian state media‚ the 12-part “Zelenskyy Unmasked“ quickly gained traction among conservative influencers.
Swann‚ whos been working for Russias media empire for years‚ claims to keep his Russian-funded work separate from his US-focused content. However‚ theres overlap in guests and themes between his RT shows and the Zelenskyy series which echoes Russian messaging about Ukraineʼs president.
The series spread reveals how Russia-backed talking points travel on social media – a trend thats worrying US intelligence officials and disinformation experts. It also sheds light on the murky world of political influencers who arent required to disclose their funding sources.
Curious about the billions of dollars and weapons Congress sent Ukraine? You need to watch the first episode of the explosive 12-part series
Swann‚ who was fired from a TV station roughly 6 years ago for promoting conspiracy theories has since become a social media star. He portrays himself as someone asking tough questions about controversial topics (like vaccine safety and geopolitical events).
His company‚ Rebel Media Productions registered with the Justice Department as working for Russian state media about 2 years ago. It received over $6 million from RT-related entities in less than two years. However‚ Swann stopped reporting this work to the authorities about 8 months ago despite continuing to produce RT shows.
The “Zelenskyy Unmasked“ series was promoted by conservative influencers‚ including Donald Trump Jr. Some influencers used nearly identical language in their posts‚ raising questions about coordinated promotion efforts. At least one creator acknowledged being paid to promote the series.
US officials have warned about Russias attempts to disrupt the presidential election and sow discord in the West. Theyre particularly concerned about covert efforts to exploit unwitting Americans to spread Moscows message