Videos and images claiming to show Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dancing have been widely shared online during the Russia-Ukraine war. However, our fact-checking confirms that these are deepfake creations, digitally altering someone else’s body to appear as Zelenskyy.
Social Media Claim
A Facebook video purportedly shows that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is dressed as a dancer, implying he is part of the LGBTQ community, and claims this is why he has received support from the United States in opposing the Russian invasion.
The video has gained significant traction, prompting numerous reactions and comments from users who perceive it as authentic.
Below is a screenshot of the video circulated on Facebook with a claim stating: “This is the Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky a great dancer and Actor. The dancing moves have been likened to an “LGBTQ move” although not been proven if that is the reason why he has strong ties with the United States. […]”
A similar scene was also recently shared on social media by another Facebook user. Below is the full video showing Volodymyr Zelenskyy dancing for entertainment.
The following is another image taken from a social media post dated March 17, 2025, which claims in Khmer or translates into English as “This is a real photo, not edited. Earning money through his hard work. But now, making pastries without flour has become much easier.”
A similar video was also posted on the social media platform TikTok, leading to widespread sharing by users. Below is the same video uploaded on TikTok, with a caption claiming it shows Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention, it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo has verified this claim using Google Reverse Image Search, which led us to uncover the truth outlined below.
A similar video clip was found and uploaded on YouTube, showing a man in a red outfit dancing for entertainment. However, upon closer inspection, it was clear that this man was not President Zelenskyy, the current president of Ukraine.
Below is the original video, published in 2020, which does not feature President Zelenskyy. This highlights the importance of verifying content before accepting it as true, especially when it comes to viral videos and images.
Below is a comparison between the photo that was found and shared on social media and the original image.
On the other hand, a similar video clip was also posted on the social media platform Instagram in 2022. Despite the claims made in the post, the video does not feature Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Instead, it shows someone else, and the video has been misattributed. This further contributes to the spread of misinformation regarding President Zelenskyy’s involvement in the video.
Below, you can watch the full video clip that was originally posted on Instagram, which clearly shows that it is not the Ukrainian President in the footage.
Instagram Post | Archived Link
Fact Crescendo also uncovered another video clip posted on the social media platform Instagram, which had been circulating with claims that it featured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dancing for entertainment. However, upon further investigation, it became clear that the individual in the video was not President Zelenskyy.
Instead, the man seen dancing in the video was identified as Pablo Acosta, an Argentine dancer known for his performances.
Instagram Post | Archived Link
Below is a comparison between the photo that was found and shared on social media and the original image.
Before entering politics, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also a well-known entertainer. He participated in various performances and dance programs, including Dancing with The Stars.
In one of his appearances, he took part in a music video for a song titled “Вечерний Киев”, which translates to “Evening in Kyiv” in English, in 2014.
Below is the full video of the song that President Zelenskyy participated in.
In 2016, before becoming President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a live performance with three other members of the comedy group “Piano Four Hands.” The group was known for blending humor and music, with two performers playing piano on the same keyboard. This performance highlighted Zelenskyy’s entertainment background and versatility, which helped establish his public image before he entered politics.
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo has found that the claims linking the images and videos described above are misleading. The images and video clips showing Ukrainian President Zelenskyy dancing for entertainment are not real events. These visuals were created using Deepfake editing software, placing President Zelenskyy’s face onto another individual.
