At the end of October 2025, a photograph of the President of Ukraine wearing unusual shoes went viral on social networks. We have verified the authenticity of this photo.
In the photograph, Vladimir Zelensky is depicted next to the President of the European Council, António Costa. They stand in front of microphones and, apparently, answer questions from journalists. The President of Ukraine is dressed in a black suit and a black shirt, and on his feet are black leather boots with a very high platform. Posts with this photo first spread on the social network X (1, 2, 3), and then on Telegram - for example, in channels such as "Bloodseeker 2.0"(252,000 views at the time of writing this analysis) and "KB"(230,000). In addition, the photograph was discussed “VKontakte"
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky stopped wear trouser suits and ties that are usual for politicians, replacing them with T-shirts, sweatshirts and military-style jackets. In February 2025, this caused a conflict during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Then journalist Brian Glenn asked Zelensky, why he doesn’t wear a suit, and noted that many Americans perceive failure to comply with the dress code as disrespect. “I will put on a suit when this war ends,” the Ukrainian president said then. However, apparently, he took that incident into account and began to increasingly put on to meetings with leaders of other states black jacket with a black shirt - like in the viral photo.
The same goes for shoes - in the last three and a half years, Zelensky, as a rule, does not wear shoes or boots, preferring sneakers. Even with a suit, he doesn’t wear shoes, but black sneakers Italian brand Garmont.
In search of the original source of the viral photo, “Verified” studied joint photographs of Zelensky and Koshta as in photo archive the official website of the President of Ukraine, and in the photo banks of the largest agencies. We were unable to find similar images there, however, while studying the frame that spread on social networks, we drew attention to the distortions characteristic of images created using AI. Thus, Costa’s hands and fingers are severely deformed, and instead of media logos, the microphones are depicted with meaningless spots and symbols vaguely reminiscent of them.
Apparently, one of the frames became the basis for the viral image video, filmed during a joint press approach between Zelensky and Costa ahead of the European Council meeting on October 23, 2025 in Brussels.
It is noteworthy that, while fulfilling the user’s task, the neural network also changed Koshta’s shoes: his shoes in the viral picture also have a much thicker sole than in the original, although thinner than Zelensky’s. And, judging by the original footage, it is not entirely clear why the Ukrainian president would wear high-soled shoes to this meeting - he is approximately the same height as the President of the European Council.
The earliest publication containing the generated image and which was found “Verified” appeared on the X social network on the Ukrainian-language page @Archy_A. Corresponding fast was posted there on October 24 at 08:26 Moscow time. This blog is entirely devoted to criticism of the President of Ukraine and his supporters. “Zelebobiki, you are directly responsible for everything that is happening now, including the war. Minions of Bonevtik (from Ukrainian “because he didn’t escape”; this is Zelensky’s euphemism called some of his opponents. — Approx. ed.) SHOULD be in prison,” the profile description says.
Thus, Zelensky did not wear high platform boots to his meeting with Costa. The viral photo was generated using AI based on a frame from a report from the recent EU leaders' summit in Brussels.
Cover photo: screenshot X
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