German outlet refutes hoax, widely quoted by Russians, about Ukraine's Defence Intelligence chief being in a coma

Stern magazine has stated it did not publish news about a severe injury allegedly suffered by Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence. The story was spread by Russian media, propagandists and "militants", citing Stern, on 17 June.

Source: DW, citing Stern

Quote: "Stern did not publish such news. So this story is nothing more than an outright fake, more fake news by Russian propagandists."

Details: It is further noted that Stern's most recent story about Budanov, which stated his opinion on whether China would supply weapons to Moscow, was dated 28 February.

On 17 June, Russian media and propagandists began to "quote" Stern, alleging that Budanov has suffered a brain injury and is in a coma.

The Russians pointed out at the time that Stern is one of the most highly regarded media outlets in Germany and that "paying for a story to be published in it would be unrealistic".

Reminder:

• A few days earlier, the Russian propaganda machine released a fake news story about a missile allegedly hitting the building of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence and seriously injuring Defence Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.
• In May, Russian propagandists began spreading the "news", citing unnamed sources, that Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, had suffered a head injury and multiple shrapnel wounds during an alleged missile attack on a command post near the village of Posad-Pokrovske near Kherson in early May.
• The Armed Forces of Ukraine later posted a video of Zaluzhnyi to disprove the fake news.

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