FACT CHECK: No, The Secret Service Did Not Reveal Zelenskyy Naturalization Certificate
A video shared on Instagram claims a U.S. Secret Service agent revealed a naturalization certificate for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alleging that he is leaving Ukraine to become a U.S. citizen.
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Verdict: False
This is not a genuine certificate and there is no evidence that a Secret Service agent leaked this information.
Fact Check:
Zelenskyy recently fired his commander in chief, Valery Zaluzhny, and appointed Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky in his stead, according to The Hill. Zelenskyy said there is a “need to change approaches and strategy” in Ukraine’s war against Russia, PBS reported.
In an Instagram video, a man in the video claims that according to a U.S. Secret Service agent Zelenskyy is about to become a U.S. citizen and a resident of Florida.
“[The agent] has documents claiming that the U.S. has already negotiated the plan to remove Zelenskyy from power, bring him to the United States as a U.S. citizen,” the man says. “And here you can see these naturalization documents which have been provided.”
“Everyone is coming [to] Florida,” the caption reads.
These claims are inaccurate, however. A reverse image search shows that the headshot on the alleged naturalization certificate was posted to Zelenskyy’s official website in 2022. Additionally, a full name is required on naturalization certificates, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The alleged certificate shows the name Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but omits his middle name, which is Oleksandrovych, according to CNN.
There are no credible news reports about a Secret Service agent revealing this information. (RELATED: No, USA Today Did Not Report Zelenskyy’s Security Got In A Bar Fight In NYC)
The faux certificate was posted to a website called DC Weekly. This site has posted disinformation about Zelenskyy and Ukraine in the past, according to BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh.
Check Your Fact has contacted Zelenskyy’s office and the Secret Service for comment will update this piece accordingly if a comment is received from either source.
