UNFOUNDED: Zelenskyi decided to appropriate the money of Ukrainian refugees

Information is being spread online alleging that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has decided to appropriate the money of Ukrainian refugees. In the post, the authors claim that behind the president’s proposal to transfer the funds that EU countries allocate to assist Ukrainian refugees to the Ukrainian budget lies a desire for personal gain. Supposedly, the head of state will use them for personal purposes, including “buying a third yacht.”

However, these claims are unfounded. The President proposed to direct the funds to the state budget so that the Ukrainian authorities could independently distribute them among Ukrainian refugees. He explained that after the full-scale aggression by the Russian Federation, Ukrainians took their money with them, which still remains in Europe.

On January 28, the German TV channel ARD published an interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyi. In it, the President of Ukraine expressed the opinion that it would be better if Germany transferred the funds allocated for Ukrainian refugees to the Ukrainian state budget. After that, the Ukrainian government would redistribute the money depending on where the person is located. He argued this opinion by pointing out that in some cases, people may receive assistance both in the country they left and in the country they entered.

He also mentioned that after the start of full-scale aggression, Ukrainians massively emigrated abroad and consequently took their money with them. Later, Europe began to support Ukrainian refugees who were inside European countries. “In the end, our money left, and European money remained where Ukrainian citizens remained. Outside the territory of Ukraine. I have no questions about this. I just wanted us to pay attention to this. When the whole world talks about financial support for Ukrainians, I would like to draw attention to where most of this money remains“, Zelenskyi said.

In January 2024, the Deputy Chairman of the National Bank, Serhii Nikolaichuk, reported that Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country were generating significant currency outflows. In particular, in 2022, this outflow amounted to almost $20 billion, in 2023 — about $18 billion, and in 2024, the expected volumes could reach up to $13 billion. Another Deputy Chairman of the National Bank, Yurii Geletiy, also pointed out that Ukrainian refugees spend about $35 million daily from Ukrainian bank cards abroad.

According to financial analyst Serhii Fursa, in his statement the president emphasized that the EU is helping Ukrainian refugees who are on the territory of the Union, while these funds do not support the Ukrainian economy in any way.

In a comment to the German publication Deutsche Welle, Margret Böwe, a member of the social advocacy group VdK Deutschland, pointed out that President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s proposal cannot be implemented because social benefits can only be received by individuals residing in Germany. “Even Germans living abroad do not receive this assistance“, Böwe noted.

She also added that this principle is in place because social services not only provide financial assistance but also assess the individual needs of applicants. For example, whether assistance is needed in preparing children for school or furnishing housing. The press service of the Federal Employment Agency stated that they do not have data on systematic abuse by Ukrainian refugees.

The information about Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s intention to appropriate the funds of refugees seems to be a fabricated judgment of Russian propaganda, as there is no confirmation that the Ukrainian government seeks to take the refugees’ funds for itself. Especially considering the constant monitoring of the aid provided by European Union countries to Ukraine. Additionally, we have previously debunked the fake that Volodymyr Zelenskyi purchased two yachts worth over $75 million through trusted individuals.