| Published July 30, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of its propaganda campaign, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed this week that top U.S. and British officials have held secret meetings with senior Ukrainian figures to orchestrate the removal of President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the SVR, the West intends to replace Zelensky with former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi—a claim quickly dismissed by Kyiv as part of a long-running Russian psychological operation.
🚨 The Allegation: A Secret Meeting in the Alps
According to reports from Russian and pro-Kremlin outlets like ZeroHedge, U.S. and U.K. officials met in an undisclosed Alpine resort with high-level Ukrainian insiders, including:
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Andriy Yermak (Zelensky’s chief of staff),
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Kyrylo Budanov (Ukrainian military intelligence chief),
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and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former top general who was dismissed by Zelensky earlier this year.
Citing unnamed intelligence, the SVR alleges that the West has lost confidence in Zelensky’s leadership and is now backing Zaluzhnyi to take over, reportedly with assurances given to Yermak and Budanov about retaining influential roles.
🇷🇺 Russia’s Narrative Strategy
The claim fits into a broader Russian information campaign, which has repeatedly predicted Zelensky’s political downfall. As highlighted by Meduza, the SVR has issued similar coup warnings over the past two years, none of which have been substantiated. This latest version, released on July 29, is the most detailed yet, but analysts suggest it is less about truth than destabilization.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, called the report “a fabrication designed to sow discord and distrust within the Ukrainian leadership and society.”
📊 The Political Backdrop
While President Zelensky’s popularity has fluctuated amid war fatigue and economic strain, he remains the central figure of Ukraine’s resistance against Russia. His dismissal of Zaluzhnyi earlier this year sparked debate within the country, but no credible evidence suggests a Western-backed effort to replace him.
Meanwhile, Zaluzhnyi has kept a relatively low public profile, fueling occasional speculation about his political ambitions—but he has not publicly challenged Zelensky’s authority or called for change.
🧠 Disinformation as a Weapon
Experts warn that the Kremlin’s latest claims are part of a classic strategy:
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Drive wedges between Ukraine’s leadership,
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Undermine public trust in Western allies,
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and Shift attention from battlefield setbacks and mounting Russian casualties.
By suggesting U.S.–U.K. involvement in Ukraine’s internal politics, Russia seeks to paint Zelensky as expendable and portray Ukraine as a Western puppet state—a narrative that plays well with domestic audiences and skeptical global observers.
🗣️ Denials from All Sides
Neither the U.S. nor U.K. governments have commented publicly on the SVR report, while Ukrainian officials swiftly dismissed it as false.
Opposition leaders in Ukraine, who have had contact with Western diplomats, have also rejected any suggestion of coup plotting. In an earlier interview, former President Petro Poroshenko admitted meeting with U.S. officials but called coup claims “pure fiction.”
Implications:
Here are the key implications—political, military, and informational—stemming from the alleged plot to replace Zelensky, whether true or not:
⚖️ 1. Destabilization of Ukrainian Leadership
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Even if false, rumors of internal betrayal create distrust among top officials, potentially weakening wartime decision-making.
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Allies may become cautious in their communication with Ukraine’s leadership if they perceive fractures or potential leadership change, affecting coordination on military aid and long-term strategic planning.
🕵️♂️ 2. Kremlin Psychological Warfare Escalation
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The Russian narrative aims to portray Ukraine as a failing Western puppet state, with Zelensky being disposable and Western loyalty shifting.
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This could be part of a broader Kremlin tactic to undermine morale among Ukrainian citizens and soldiers, especially if they begin to believe their president is being sidelined.
📉 3. Erosion of Public Confidence
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Ukrainian citizens may begin to question Zelensky’s legitimacy or staying power, especially amid war fatigue and economic hardship.
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This could lead to internal political rifts or public demonstrations, which Russia could amplify through propaganda channels.
🌍 4. Strain on Western Unity
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If the rumor gains traction, it could fuel division within NATO or EU members—some of whom may question whether Washington or London are acting unilaterally in Ukraine’s internal affairs.
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Countries wary of regime-change politics may slow support or distance themselves from U.S. policy, weakening the united front against Russia.
🛡️ 5. Complicates Military Chain of Command
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The mention of Zaluzhnyi—recently dismissed but still popular—may sow confusion within Ukraine’s armed forces, especially if soldiers feel loyalty to him over current commanders.
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This could be a deliberate attempt to fracture Ukraine’s military unity during ongoing operations.
📺 6. Media and Disinformation Landscape
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The story’s amplification on platforms like ZeroHedge and some international outlets shows how Russian-origin narratives can penetrate global media, regardless of their accuracy.
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If widely believed, it could shift global public opinion, particularly among neutral or skeptical nations, casting Ukraine as politically unstable.
🗳️ 7. Risks to Ukraine’s Democratic Transition
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Ukraine is navigating wartime governance without national elections since 2022. Allegations of Western-backed regime change weaken its image as a sovereign democracy, especially if no election roadmap is clarified soon.
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The Kremlin may exploit this to say “Zelensky is no longer elected, and the West is planning who rules next.”
⏳ 8. Precursor to Further Russian Escalation
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Moscow could use this “coup plot” narrative to justify future escalations, such as intensified missile strikes, cyberattacks, or political assassinations—framed as protecting Ukraine from Western manipulation.
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It may also be a cover story for internal Russian failures, blaming external manipulation rather than battlefield losses.
Overall Takeaway:
While the Russian intelligence claim of a Western-backed plot to replace Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with ex-General Valerii Zaluzhnyi has stirred global headlines, it lacks independent verification and follows a familiar pattern in Moscow’s disinformation playbook.
Rather than revealing a realignment of Western priorities, the allegation appears designed to fracture Ukraine’s internal unity, undermine trust in its leadership, and weaken global support for its war effort. By recycling coup narratives, the Kremlin seeks not just to destabilize Ukraine from within—but also to test the resolve of its allies abroad.
In the absence of hard evidence, the story says more about Russia’s information warfare tactics than any actual shifts in Ukrainian leadership. Still, its spread underscores a broader vulnerability: in a world flooded with narratives, even false ones can shape perceptions—and perceptions, in turn, can shape outcomes.
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