Zelensky’s mandate expires, Russia ramps up disinformation campaign
Monday is officially the "last day" of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's term. A few days earlier, the BBC warned that Russia would seek to exploit the expiration of Zelensky's mandate. The Kremlin has already begun a disinformation operation with a post by Dmitry Medvedev.
"May 20, 2024 will be the last day of Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency. (...) He should therefore resign and transfer his powers," the Ukrainian section of the BBC wrote on Saturday. The station analyzed how Russia will seek to exploit the expiration of Zelensky's mandate.
The Ukrainian section of the BBC analyzed possible events related to the formal end of President Volodymyr Zelensky's term. Officially, on May 20, 2024, his term expires.
"For Russian propaganda and several of Zelensky's Ukrainian opponents, the coming Monday will be his last day as President of Ukraine. The day when Zelensky becomes a 'former president,' and Ukraine a state without legal authority," reads a detailed analysis.
The disinformation campaign has already been started by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, who in a Telegram post comments on Zelensky's "loss of legitimacy."
Absurd post by Medvedev
"For Russia, the ultimate loss of legitimacy by the pseudo-president of the former Ukraine changes nothing. He already leads a regime hostile to Russia, waging war against us. And leaders of countries at war are always considered legitimate military targets. For us, he is already a war criminal, and the loss of official status changes nothing. Although he, like any of his successors (although there is no talk of legal succession here), maybe the one to sign an act of unconditional surrender. As, for example, Alfred Jodl or Wilhelm Keitel did on behalf of Nazi Germany and their armed forces," wrote Medvedev.
In his propagandistic post, the Kremlin politician added that "the fate of Zelensky is not indifferent to us. He must be caught and tried for crimes against the citizens of Russia and Ukraine."
Medvedev also stated that Ukraine cannot have its own leader unless it is a president who will sign an act of capitulation of Ukraine.
Warnings were already issued earlier
In early May, Ukrainian military intelligence HUR warned that Russia intends to destabilize Ukraine and cause its defeat in the war through the implementation of a three-part plan, which, in addition to military actions, includes coordinated informational and diplomatic operations.
A component of the Kremlin's plan is informational operations aimed at discrediting Ukrainian authorities and undermining Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy by asserting that he is not a legitimate president because he did not call new elections during the war.
"Ukrainian authorities warned that the Russians intend to intensify the operation called 'Maidan 3' to sow doubts about Zelensky's legitimacy as president, particularly among the military," commented the American Institute for the Study of War.
