World
Russia’s UK embassy tweets antisemitic meme of Ukraine's President Zelensky
The Ukrainian president is depicted as having an abnormally large nose, which is a well-known antisemitic trope
November 22, 2022 16:03
The Ukrainian president is depicted as having an abnormally large nose, which is a well-known antisemitic trope
November 22, 2022 16:03The official Twitter account of the Russian embassy in the UK tweeted an antisemitic meme depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with an abnormally large nose.
In the Simpson’s-inspired meme posted on Tuesday, President Zelensky, who is Jewish, is depicted as writing, “I will not fire missiles towards Poland anymore” multiple times on a blackboard, reminiscent of a school punishment.
The words of the meme is in reference to an incident last Tuesday in which it is believed a Ukrainian air defence missile landed in the Polish town of Przewodów, killing two, during a Russian missile attack.
Social media users were quick to condemn the caricature of President Zelensky having a large nose as antisemitic. The tweet has racked up nearly 5,000 likes and 1,200 retweets only four hours after it was posted.
Oh look…the official Russian Embassy in Britain account has given Zelensky a massive nose. Utterly disgusting antisemitism from one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council here. https://t.co/EQoclTEQ5u
— David Patrikarakos (@dpatrikarakos) November 22, 2022
In justifying the 2022 invasion of Ukraine to the Russian people, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said their stated goal was the "de-nazification" of Ukraine and has since accused Ukraine of being “ruled by Nazis” on multiple occasions.
Speaking on Monday via satellite to students in Ireland, President Zelensky accused Russia of spreading disinformation on social media, which he referred to as its own “battlefield.”
He added that it would take more than weapons to fight Russia, and that if the world succeeded in penetrating Russia’s “wall of lies”, then the whole world could be united.
Jewish people having long or hooked noses has been an offensive stereotype utilised most famously by the Nazi propaganda machine beginning in the 1930s.