First Lady Shopping Luxury Goods in New York... Investigating the Zelenska Suspicion Posted on SNS

Suspicion Raised via Russian SNS → Proven Fake News
US Store Receipt and First Lady's Visit to Canada Overlap

Through Russian social networking services (SNS), allegations arose that Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, purchased luxury goods worth $1.1 million (approximately 1.5 billion KRW) at a Cartier store in New York, USA, but analysis suggests this is close to fake news.

On the 5th (local time), according to the American news weekly Newsweek, a pro-Russian account on X (formerly Twitter) posted that Zelenska bought $1.1 million worth of Cartier jewelry in New York, fired an employee, and that the money spent remained in the United States.

The post included an Instagram story from a woman claiming to have worked as an intern at the Cartier store in New York, where she claimed that Zelenska visited the store where she worked.

In the video, the woman said, "When I showed her (Zelenska) the product, she shouted at my face, 'Who told you I need your opinion?'" and added, "After Zelenska spoke to the manager, I was fired."

The copy of the purchase receipt presented as evidence included Zelenska’s name, the total billed amount, purchase details, and the purchase date.

However, the purchase date on the receipt, the 22nd of last month, was the day the Zelensky couple visited Ottawa, Canada, and met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The couple visited the Canadian Parliament that day, Zelensky gave a speech to the Parliament in the afternoon, and later there was an evening meeting of the Ukrainian delegation in Toronto.

Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine.
Photo by Reuters

Newsweek pointed out that considering this schedule, even if the First Lady went to New York after visiting the Parliament, she would have had to arrive at the store before the closing time of 7 p.m. for the claim to hold.

Additionally, Newsweek emphasized that the receipt photo presented appears to be forged and that the receipt alone is not sufficient evidence. The original video has since been deleted and cannot be found.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.