On October 21, Russian-speaking Facebook account shared a photo of a cover allegedly from the German magazine Handelsblatt depicting caricatures of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden and Olaf Scholz. In the photo, Zelenskyy, looking desperate, is shown banging on the door of Joe Biden and Olaf Scholz with an axe. Meanwhile, Biden and Scholz are inside, hiding from him.
“It’s Zelenskyy; Why are Biden and Scholz avoiding Zelenskyy?”- states the headline.
The Handelsblatt cover circulating online is fabricated. The authentic cover from October 17 differs from the version shared on social media. The magazine did not feature similar cover neither in this, nor in any other issues before or after this date.
The cover posted online, allegedly from the German publication Handelsblatt, is fabricated. The image states that the cover date is October 17 with an issue NR 202. In reality, the cover from that date is entirely different and is issue No. 201.
As for the Issue No. 202, it is dated October 18, also looks different from the version being circulated online.
Issue No. 201, October 17 Source: handelsblatt.com
The real cover from October 17 consists of highlights, and the title suggests that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has presented a ‘Victory plan’ to the Ukraine’s parliament.
Victory plan intends to force Russia to end its war of aggression. The plan envisages immediately extending Ukraine an invitation to join NATO and allowing the use of long-range weapons systems supplied by the West to be used on the Russian territory.
The fabricated cover aims to portray that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is desperate, offensive and at the same time allies don’t want to talk to him and refuse to further help Ukraine.
The headline on Cover NR 202 is not related to Ukraine; rather focuses on shares, real estate, bonds: How to turn your dream of earning extra money from capital gains into reality – states the headline.
Issue No. 202 , October 18 Source: handelsblatt.com
The cover shared online is not in any issues of handelsblatt.com before or after these dates.
This is not the first time Handelsblatt’s cover has been fabricated to discredit Ukraine.
In June and August 2023, Myth Detector uncovered two fabricated covers (1, 2). The first one
aimed at portraying Ukraine’s counteroffensive launched that month as unsuccessful. The second fabricated cover aims to portray Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk region as a failure.
About the Source:
The Facebook account Андрей Шевцов frequently shares posts aimed at discrediting Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his policies. He has disseminated disinformation in the past as well.
Nutsa Sparsiashvili
Myth Detector Laboratory
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