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Russian billionaire's superyacht makes waves in London

Andrey Melnichenko’s eyecatching £225m Philippe Starck-designed boat moored next to D-Day warship HMS Belfast on Thames

One of the world’s most famous superyachts has arrived in London , mooring up alongside a historic British warship on the Thames in the centre of the capital.

There was no mistaking Motor Yacht A, owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, as it sailed into the heart of the capital at the weekend, mooring next to the D-Day warship HMS Belfast by Tower Bridge.

Over the years, the £225m yacht, which is 119 metres (390ft) long and boasts three pools and seven luxurious cabins, has been spotted in the playgrounds of the rich and famous and was reportedly put up for sale earlier this year by the wealthy industrialist.

Melnichenko, 44, listed by Forbes magazine as one of Europe’s youngest billionaires with a fortune estimated at $11.4bn (£8.6bn) is said to have made his money through investments in coal, fertilisers and banking.

VIDEO: M/Y A - the $300 million superyacht designed by Philippe Starck - arriving in London yesterday pic.twitter.com/JrcBITdB5E — On The Thames (@ThamesPics) September 4, 2016

Melnichenko, whose 39-year-old wife Aleksandra is a former model and pop singer from Serbia, has reportedly commissioned the even grander Sailing Yacht A from the same designer, Philippe Starck.

Motor Yacht A boasts an unusual upside-down hull among its range of features, which also include three swimming pools that create currents to swim against, with a glass roof looking up into one of the pools, according to superyachts.com .

The vessel has a helipad and master suite encased in bomb-proof 44mm glass, and can accommodate 14 guests and up to 37 crew.

The yacht was named A in order to make the vessel appear first on shipping registries.

When completed in 2008, Motor Yacht A was the sixth-largest privately owned motor yacht in the world, though now is lower down in the top 25.

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110m superyacht Kaos arrives in London

The 110-metre superyacht Kaos has arrived on the Thames in London after a mammoth transatlantic passage from Miami. She set out on the almost 4,000 nautical mile journey in early May, stopping just once en route in the Azores and again at the mouth of Thames, opposite Southend-on-Sea.

The yacht was built by Dutch yard Oceanco and refitted by German yard Lürssen as part of a 17-month project which touched 1,500 square metres of interior space and totally reconfigured the transom and pool area. Kaos' AIS signal suggests she may be returning to Lürssen to undertake further refit or maintenance work. 

The 4501GT was delivered as Jubilee in 2017. At the time of her launch she was around the 38th largest yacht in the world, and the largest yacht of her builder, Oceanco. Now, Oceanco's flagship is 127-metre Koru , the yacht believed to have been commissioned for Jeff Bezos, while Kaos is around the 55th largest yacht in the world.

Kaos ' unique metallic blue exterior is by Barcelona-based designer Lobanov Design and centres around tricking the eye with the use of faux decks designed to give the impression of a taller vessel. The yacht's industrial-looking funnel is another focal point and favourite element of the designer, and the shape of the decks is unusual too, curving in such a way that gives the yacht the look of an island from above. 

The yacht's original interiors are by Sam Sorgiovanni . At the time of her delivery, it was estimated that the yacht had more marble and more stone installed on board than any other vessel, with inspiration drawn from Casablanca's melting pot of European and Arabic culture. Crystal Caviar insets, custom silk carpets, Iranian white onyx, Golden Spider stone were all key components of the yacht's styling.

The yacht changed hands in 2018, with a last known asking price of €275 million at the time of sale. The subsequent refit saw UK-based firm Reymond Langton take over the styling, undertaking a number of modifications to reflect the new owner's tastes.

The yacht has remained largely private since the refit. She had an 8.5-metre pool on the aft deck alongside a 14-seater dining table and a main saloon spanning 135 square metres.

Kaos is one of the largest yachts to visit London .

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MOTOR YACHT A – Cutting-edge $300M Superyacht

MOTOR YACHT A is one of the largest privately-owned megayachts in existence, measuring 119 meters (390 ft) in length.

It is currently ranked the 27th biggest yacht in the world and sails under the flag of Bermuda.

A was built by the famous shipyard Blohm & Voss in Kiel, Germany and after four years of construction, she was handed over to her new owner in 2008.

MOTOR YACHT A interior

The interior of the 119 meters (390 ft) long A offers plenty of natural light and elaborate wooden furniture, providing a luxurious and comfortable ambiance.

The interior design is by Philippe Starck, a renowned French architect, and designer who helped develop the private rooms of the Élysée Palace in Paris.

MOTOR YACHT A features a beautiful master suite and an additional six state-of-the-art guest cabins. A crew of 35 members is able to stay on board to take care of up to 14 guests.

Specifications

Two diesel engines power MOTOR YACHT A with an output of 9,000 kW each. A full tank of over 750,000 liters provides her with an impressive reach of up to 6,500 nautical miles.

Her cruising speed lies at 19 knots, but the vessel can reach maximum speeds of up to 23 knots.

A is equipped with the latest technology and control systems, which aid the crew in maneuvering the gigantic vessel. She has a width of 18.87 meters (61.90 ft) and weighs in at an impressive 5,500 tons.

Philippe Starck also created the exterior design of A in collaboration with naval architect Martin Francis and the shape of the yacht strongly resembles a US Navy destroyer.

A has a total of three swimming pools distributed on the different decks.

The pool on the front deck is the largest of all and is equipped with a jet nozzle that can simulate currents.

Furthermore, A features a spacious beach club as well as three tenders housed in their own garages.

She also has her own helicopter landing pad located on the forward main deck while three elevators make it easy for guests and crew to reach the different levels of the vessel.

Of course, A is equipped with a high-quality gym and a spacious spa area.

The price of MOTOR YACHT A is estimated at about US $300 million, which the owner, Russian billionaire Melnichenko paid for the vessel in 2008.

The annual costs amount to US $12 to $15 million depending on use.

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Lady Alhena of London

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LADY ALHENA OF LONDON YACHT CHARTER

27.38m  /  89'10   astondoa   1994 / 2007.

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Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• Interior design from Nuvolari Lenard
• Sleeps 11 guests
• 4.6m/15'1" Nova-marine Tender

Lap up the natural splendor of your surroundings in the utmost comfort onboard motor yacht Lady Alhena of London

The 27.38m/89'10" 'Lady Alhena of London' motor yacht built by the Spanish shipyard Astondoa is available for charter for up to 11 guests in 5 cabins. This yacht features interior styling by Italian designer Nuvolari Lenard.

Built in 1994, Lady Alhena of London is the ideal luxury yacht for kicking back and relaxing whilst on charter, showcasing clever use of space with an artful combination of integrated systems and luxurious features, she's a crowd-pleaser for sure.

Guest Accommodation

Lady Alhena of London offers guest accommodation for up to 11 guests in 5 suites comprising a master suite, two double cabins and two twin cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 4 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Lady Alhena of London benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter including air conditioning to keep your comfortable throughout your charter.

Performance & Range

Built with a GRP hull and aluminium superstructure, she has impressive speed and great efficiency thanks to her planing hull. Powered by twin Detroit Diesel engines, she comfortably cruises at 16 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 22 knots with a range of up to 420 nautical miles from her 9,800 litre fuel tanks at cruising speed.

Onboard Lady Alhena of London has a range of toys and accessories to keep you and your guests entertained on the water throughout your stay. Take to the sea on the Jet Skis offering you power and control on the water. Another excellent feature are waterskis that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. Additionally, there are wakeboards so guests can show off at speed. If that isn't enough Lady Alhena of London also features kayaks and snorkelling equipment. When it's time to travel from land to see, it couldn't be easier with a 4.6m/15'1" Nova-marine Tender.

Lady Alhena of London offers you and your guests the perfect platform from which to enjoy your next luxury yacht charter. Please enquire for details of her winter and forthcoming summer cruising grounds and availability.

Motor yacht Lady Alhena of London boasts an impressive array of outstanding amenities for truly out-of-this-world charter vacations that you’ll never forget.

TESTIMONIALS

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Lady Alhena of London Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Lady Alhena of London has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Lady Alhena of London is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x 4.6m  /  15'1 Nova-marine Tender with 1 x 60 HP engine

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

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For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Lady Alhena of London' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€49,750 p/week + expenses Approx $54,000

High Season

€59,750 p/week + expenses Approx $65,000

Cruising Regions

HOT SPOTS:   Mallorca

Winter Season

October - April

€39,750 p/week + expenses Approx $43,000

Charter Lady Alhena of London

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Large superyachts visiting London, England on the river Thames are an exciting spectacle, but also a fantastic base to access events and the central parts of the city, making London a very interesting yacht charter prospect. There are also luxury yacht marinas and berths available with more currently being developed.

On such marina is the historic St Katharine Docks in central London which has berthage for 200 luxury yachts and historic barges. A haven of tranquillity and nestled in the heart of the City of London, St Katharine’s is directly adjacent to the iconic Tower Bridge and next to the Tower of London. The marina is home to visiting and local superyachts and also provides space for private and corporate events amongst the associated commercial buildings.

St Katharine Docks has a thousand years of dramatic history to its name, making it one of the most interesting marina histories in the world.  King Edgar originally gifted 13 acres of land to 13 knights in 1125for trade. St Katharine’s docks have been used ever since throughout the ages for one purpose or another and then in 1825 construction began on the docks, laying down the framework for what you see today.

When visiting the UK with London on the itinerary, yachts also dock in the city of Southampton in south-west England. Many vessels drop anchor at Ocean Village Marina or Hamble Point Marina. Expect a coach or train journey time of around 1 hour 20 minutes from Southampton into South London.

London, the UK’s exciting capital city attracts visitors from around the world. Go shopping in Oxford Street, Regent Street as well as famous department stores like Harrods, Harvey Nichols or Selfridges. How about a night out at the theatre? Watch a play, musical, drama or ballet at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, the London Palladium or the Old Vic. There are many places to visit in London. It’s such a diverse city with some of the world’s best sights, attractions and activities. 

See the city from above on the London Eye, meet a celeb at Madame Tussaud’s or examine the treasures at the British Museum. Sightseeing couldn’t be better. Check out the underwater creatures at Sea Life London or marvel at the strange objects in the Science Museum. There really is something for everyone in London and plenty to do to make up a luxury yacht charter itinerary.

Buy a day ticket for a London, red double-decker bus on-off tour. What a great vantage point to catch fantastic views of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral and of course, Buckingham Palace. You’ll get a birds-eye view of London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and the Changing of the Guard. Spend an afternoon at London Zoo, home to more than 16,000 animals like tigers, hippos, and giraffes. 

A little outside London is Kensington Palace, an intriguing Royal Palace that also houses an exhibition of Princess Diana’s dresses. Find out where Queen Victoria lived as a child and see the wonderful collection of paintings from the Royal Collection. To keep you in holiday mode, take a river cruise down the River Thames. Relax and enjoy the magnificent views as you sail past Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Cleopatra’s Needle, The Shard and the London Eye Pier. After so much excitement, it’s back to your superyacht in Southampton for the next part of your voyage.

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Smiles of London

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RIVERSCAPES SKIPPERED YACHT CHARTER  (1991)

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10 of the biggest yachts at this year's Palm Beach International Boat Show

The Palm Beach International Boat Show returns to West Palm Beach's waterfront from March 21-24 — bringing with it some of the largest, most luxurious yachts in the world.

The Super Yacht Show Palm Beach features a range of boats that are longer than 100 feet, including 18 that are longer than 151 feet.

Here's a look at 10 of the biggest boats that visitors to the show can experience up close.

Come Together

This 197-foot behemoth with a price tag that starts at $59.95 million makes it the most expensive boat for sale at the 2024 Palm Beach International Boat Show.

Come Together provides plenty of space and amenities to do as its name suggests and bring more than a dozen people together for an adventure at sea, according to its listing on the show's website.

It was built in 2022 by Amels and features a hybrid propulsion system. The interiors were done by Winch Design of London, with materials including Jerusalem limestone, light matte oak and walnut, and bronze. The ship's six cabins can house up to 14 guests, the listing said.

A 27-meter sun deck features a Jacuzzi with a sunbathing area, gym equipment, sheltered bar and wind-protected dining table.

You can find Come Together in the water at Ramps C and D.

Hospitality

Want to buy the 164-foot Hospitality? The price starts at $29.75 million, according to the yacht's listing on the boat show's website.

The Westport-built vessel was first constructed in 2011 and refit in 2021. It has seven cabins that can accommodate 16 guests. That includes a primary suite and a VIP suite. It also features a sun deck with a hot tub and sunbathing area.

The ship has traveled "to some of the world's most remote places with an impressive 4,000+ nautical mile range," its listing said.

You can find Hospitality in the water at Ramp E at the show.

The 155-foot Ancora was just completed in August by manufacturer Mengi Yay, its listing said. It is being presented by Fraser Yachts.

Ancora was built for charter use and has a master suite with a private balcony, plus four staterooms including two doubles and two convertibles, allowing for up to 10 guests, the listing said.

Summer charter rates with Fraser run from about $282,000 per week in the western Mediterranean Sea to about $260,000 per week in the winter in the Caribbean, according to Fraser's website .

You can find Ancora in the water at Ramp 2.

Next Chapter

This Benetti-built vessel is 180 feet and 6 inches and was built in 2003 with a refit in 2022, the listing said.

Next Chapter's six cabins — including a split-level master suite with an observation lounge and private study — can accommodate up to 13 people. It features a Jacuzzi, gym and beach club, and is built for charter use, the listing said.

The price starts at $19.9 million, and the ship is being presented at the show by The International Yacht Co.

Next Chapter will be in the water at Ramp E.

For $21 million, you can be the new owner of the Feadship-built Berilda, a 155-foot yacht built in 2001 and refit in 2020-21, according to its listing.

The yacht has "the highest pedigree with a documented history of excellent owners and meticulous care," the listing said. That ownership includes Royal Swedish Yacht Club member Sten Tegner, and Richard and Leslie Fairbanks.

The current owner bought Berilda in 2021 and has sailed across the Atlantic Ocean twice and through Europe, New England, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, the listing said. The yacht features six cabins for up to 14 people and quarters for a crew of up to 10.

Berilda will be in water at Ramp C.

Liberty, built by Trinity, is 187 feet and 2 inches, according to its listing. The yacht is designed for entertaining, the listing said, with social spaces including a dance floor.

Liberty was built in 2012, with work including a paint job, main engine rebuild, new generators and 10-year survey completed since 2018. The price starts at $24.75 million and the ship is being shown by The International Yacht Co.

The yacht has six cabins for 12 guests, with additional capacity for 13 crew, the listing said.

Named simply W, this 188-foot Feadship yacht is being shown by its manufacturer, according to its listing.

The vessel, originally launched as Larisa in 2013, had a major refit in 2020 and was renamed at that time, the listing said. W's owner changed the livery and antifouling, among other alterations, over the past 10 months, the listing said.

W will be in the water at Ramp C.

Priced at $20.9 million and being shown by exhibitor FGI Yacht Group, the 164-foot Tsumat was built by Trinity in 2012 and refit last year, according to its listing.

The exterior was designed by Geoff Van Aller. The interior by Ramón Alonso features leather, suede, marble and walnut, with onyx floors.

There are six staterooms for up to 12 guests and housing for a 10-person crew, the listing said.

Tsumat will be in the water at Ramps 2 and D.

The Nita K II is about 171 feet and was built by Amels in 2004, the listing said. It's priced starting at $23.9 million and presented by Merle Wood & Associates.

A refit in 2021-22 included an overhaul of the main engines and generators, and a 20-year Lloyd's class special survey was completed earlier this year, the listing said.

The interior was designed by Alberto Pinto and Laura Sessa, and the yacht can accommodate up to 12 people in five staterooms, plus room for 14 crew members in seven cabins, the listing said.

Nita K II will be in the water at Ramp D.

If it tells you anything about the level of luxury aboard the BG Charade, this 157-foot yacht was built by Feadship in 1990 for the late Paul Allen of Microsoft, the listing said. Under Allen, the BG Charade completed three circumnavigations and served as the honeymoon venue for Bill and Melinda Gates.

A technical and cosmetic refit was completed in 2016 and included new generators, rebuilt engines, new teak on the exterior and a complete electrical system update, the listing said.

BG Charade has six cabins for up to 12 guests, plus accommodations for up to 10 crew, the listing said.

The yacht will be in the water at Ramp 7.

Bonus: Talisman C

The epically long — 231.6 feet — and super-luxurious Talisman C, built by Turquoise in 2011, will be shown by Burgess Yachts in the water at Ramps D and E.

What: Palm Beach International Boat Show.

When: Noon to 7 p.m. March 21, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 22 and 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24.

Where: West Palm Beach waterfront.

Cost: General admission is free for ages 6 and younger with purchase of an adult ticket, $17 for a one-day ticket for ages 6-15, $33 for a one-day ticket for ages 16 and older, and $60 for a two-day adult ticket. VIP experiences start at $390 for a Windward single-day ticket.

Information: pbboatshow.com

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Monaco Grand Prix

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Croatia is a truly unique destination. With its long history and rich culture, host of UNESCO heritage sites, lively and unparalleled nightlife, and abundance of natural beauty; It truly is a must-visit vacation spot.

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The Bahamas and The Caribbean

The Bahamas

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From Russia, Elaborate Tales of Fake Journalists

As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online to discredit Ukraine’s leader and undercut aid. Some have a Hollywood-style plot twist.

Credit... Devin Oktar Yalkin for The New York Times

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By Steven Lee Myers

• March 18, 2024

A young man calling himself Mohamed al-Alawi appeared in a YouTube video in August. He described himself as an investigative journalist in Egypt with a big scoop: The mother-in-law of Ukraine’s president had purchased a villa near Angelina Jolie’s in El Gouna, a resort town on the Red Sea.

The story, it turned out, was not true. Ukraine denied it, and the owner of the villa refuted it. Also disconnected from reality: Alawi’s claim to being a journalist.

Still, his story caromed through social media and news outlets from Egypt to Nigeria and ultimately to Russia — which, according to researchers, is where the story all began.

The story seemed to fade, but not for long. Four months later, two new videos appeared on YouTube. They said Mohamed al-Alawi had been beaten to death in Hurghada, a town about 20 miles south of El Gouna. The suspected killers, according to the videos: Ukraine’s secret service agents.

These claims were no more factual than the first, but they gave new life to the old lie. Another round of posts and news reports ultimately reached millions of internet users around the world, elevating the narrative so much that it was even echoed by members of the U.S. Congress while debating continued military assistance to Ukraine.

Ever since its forces invaded two years ago , Russia has unleashed a torrent of disinformation to try to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

This saga, though, introduced a new gambit: a protracted and elaborately constructed narrative built online around a fictitious character and embellished with seemingly realistic detail and a plot twist worthy of Netflix.

“They never brought back a character before,” said Darren Linvill, a professor and director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University, who has extensively studied Russian disinformation.

The campaign shows how deftly Russia’s information warriors have shifted to new tactics and targets as the war in Ukraine has dragged on, just as Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine have adjusted tactics after devastating battlefield losses.

Groups with ties to the Kremlin continue to float new narratives when old ones fail to stick or grow stale, using fake or altered videos or recordings and finding or creating new outlets to spread disinformation, including ones purporting to be American news sites .

A video appeared on TikTok last month claiming to show a Ukrainian doctor working for Pfizer accusing the company of conducting unlawful tests on children. On the social network X, a man claiming to be an associate producer for Paramount Pictures spun a tale about a Hollywood biopic on Mr. Zelensky’s life.

The tale attributed to Mohamed al-Alawi is not even the only baseless allegation that Mr. Zelensky had secretly purchased properties abroad using Western financial assistance. Other versions — each seemingly tailored for a specific geographic audience — have detailed a mansion in Vero Beach, Fla., and a retreat in Germany once used by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister of propaganda.

The Russians have “demonstrated adaptability through the war on Ukraine,” Microsoft wrote in a recent report that disclosed Russia’s fraudulent use of recorded messages by famous actors and celebrities on the Cameo app to try to smear Mr. Zelensky as a drug addict.

Even when debunked, fabrications like these have proved exceedingly difficult to extinguish entirely.

YouTube took down the initial video of the character Mohamed al-Alawi, linking it to two other accounts that had previously violated the company’s policies. The accusation still circulates, however, especially on platforms, like X and Telegram, that experts say do little to block accounts generating inauthentic or automated activity. Some of the posts about the video appear to have used text or audio created with artificial intelligence tools; many are amplified by networks of bots intended to create the impression that the content is popular.

What links the narratives to Russia is not only the content disparaging Ukraine but also the networks that circulate them. They include news outlets and social media accounts that private and government researchers have linked to previous Kremlin campaigns.

“They’re trolling for a susceptible (and seemingly abundant) slice of citizens who amplify their garbage enough to muddy the waters of our discourse, and from there our policies,” said Rita Katz, the director of the SITE Intelligence Group, an American company that tracks extremist activity online and investigated the false claims about the villa.

The Making of a Fake Journalist

The video first appeared on Aug. 20 on a newly created YouTube account that had no previous activity and almost no followers, according to the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, a global nonprofit research organization in London, which traced the video’s spread.

The man appeared in a poorly lit room reading from his computer screen, which was reflected in his thick glasses. He appeared to be a real person, but it has not been possible to verify his actual identity. No one by the name of Mohamed al-Alawi appears to have produced any previous articles or videos, as would be expected of a journalist. According to ActiveFence, an internet security company, the character has no educational or work history, and no network of friends or social connections online.

The video, though, showed what purported to be photographs of a purchase contract and of the villa itself, creating a veneer of authenticity for credulous viewers. The property is, in fact, part of a resort owned by Orascom Development, whose website highlights El Gouna’s “year-round sunshine, shimmering lagoons, sandy beaches and azure waters.”

An article about the video’s claim appeared two days later as a paid advertisement, or branded content, on Punch, a news outlet in Nigeria, as well as three other Nigerian websites that aggregate news and entertainment content.

The article had the byline of Arthur Nkono, who according to internet searches does not appear to have written any other articles. The article quoted a political scientist, Abdrulrahman Alabassy, who likewise appears not to exist except in accounts linking the villa to the corrupt use of Western financial aid to Ukraine. (Punch, which later removed the post, did not respond to requests for comment.)

A day later, the claim made its first appearance on X in a post by Sonja van den Ende, an activist in the Netherlands, whose articles have previously appeared on propaganda outlets linked to the Russian government, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. (She also served as an election observer in an occupied territory of Ukraine during Russian parliamentary elections in September.)

Within days, reports about the villa appeared on X in French and Romanian, and in English on three different Reddit forums.

According to Roberta Duffield, director of intelligence for Blackbird.AI, an internet security company, nearly 29 percent of the accounts amplifying the reports appeared to be inauthentic bots, an unusually high number that would normally indicate a coordinated campaign.

Eight days after the video appeared, Russia state television networks like Channel One, Rossiya 24 and RT (in Arabic and German) reported it as a major revelation uncovered by a renowned Egyptian investigative journalist.

The story seemed to stall there. Naguib Sawiris, the scion of the Egyptian family that owned the development, curtly denied the sale in a reply on X.

And no more was heard from or about the character called Mohamed al-Alawi — until late December.

That was when two new videos emerged on a YouTube channel called “Egypt News,” claiming that he was dead.

The channel had been created the day before. One video showed a man identified as Alawi’s brother, Ahmed, answering questions from another man.

The police, he said, told him that they suspected his brother had been beaten to death by “Ukrainian special forces who acted on behalf of President Zelensky or another high-ranking official.”

He spoke with his hand cupped over his face to obscure his identity. The other video showed what was said to be the site of an attack, though the images were indistinct. “I can’t tell you anything else,” he said in the video, which YouTube later removed. “I’m afraid for my family.”

The video also tried to explain away some of the obvious holes in the initial story, including why there was no evidence online of Alawi’s previous work. “It was his first big assignment,” the man said.

The new episode spread as the first video had. A day later, an article about the death appeared on an obscure website created last year called El Mostaqbal, a name similar to but unrelated to the actual news organization in Lebanon.

“A reporter who announced that Zelensky’s mother-in-law brought a luxury villa has died under mysterious circumstances,” the headline read. Other reports that followed dropped any uncertainty and began referring to his “murder.”

In fact, Egypt’s Ministry of the Interior said there were no reports or evidence that anyone resembling the man in the video had been “subjected to harm.” The statement went on to note that the property itself had not been sold.

Still, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, posts about the supposed killing were viewed a million times on X on Dec. 25.

It also appeared on the website of the Middle East Monitor, or MEMO, operated by a well-known nonprofit organization in London and financed by the government of Qatar. A journalist who once reported from Moscow for The Telegraph of London, Ben Aris, cited it at length on the platform, though, when challenged, he said he had just made note of the rumor. “I don’t have time to check all this stuff myself,” he wrote.

It appeared in English on a site, Clear Story News, that Mr. Linvill of Clemson’s Media Forensics Hub had previously linked to Russia’s disinformation efforts. (The site lists no contact information)

Mr. Linvill described the process as a form of “narrative laundering” — moving false claims from unknown or not credible sources to ones that, to the unwitting at least, seem more legitimate.

More Elaborate Narratives

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue studied three other complex narratives about Ukraine, as well.

One featured a French journalist who claimed that the son of George Soros — a regular target of Russian and far-right political attacks — had secretly acquired land for a toxic waste dump in Ukraine. An unnamed doctor in Africa said in another that an American medical charity, the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group, was harvesting the organs of wounded Ukrainian soldiers for transplants for NATO officers.

Then there was the case of a man calling himself Shahzad Nasir, whose profile on X identifies him as a journalist with Emirates 24/7, an English-language news outlet in Dubai, though he has no apparent bylines on the site.

In November, he claimed that cronies of Mr. Zelensky bought two yachts — Lucky Me and My Legacy — for $75 million. His evidence, like Mohamed al-Alawi’s, includes photographs of the vessels and purported purchase agreements.

In fact, as the BBC documented in December, the yachts had not been purchased and remained for sale. Despite numerous efforts by fact checkers to dispel it as rumor, the claim circulated extensively.

Last month, the character Nasir reappeared in another video. This time he had a new version of the tale, claiming that the purchases had been scuttled after he exposed the secret deal.

The ramifications of these campaigns are difficult to measure precisely. There are signs, though, that they resonate even when proved false.

Senator J.D. Vance, a Republican of Ohio and an outspoken critic of Ukraine aid, seemed to embrace the claim in December during an interview on “War Room,” the podcast hosted by Stephen K. Bannon, the onetime adviser to former President Donald J. Trump.

“There are people who would cut Social Security — throw our grandparents into poverty — why?” Mr. Vance said. “So that one of Zelensky’s ministers can buy a bigger yacht?”

That prompted a public rebuke this month from a Republican colleague, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who ridiculed those who repeat unproven allegations.

“They’ve heard somebody say that if we pass this bill, that we’re all going to go ride to Kyiv with buckets full of money and let oligarchs buy yachts!” he said of critics of the assistance to Ukraine, in what he later called a reference to Mr. Vance’s comments. “I wonder how the spouses of the estimated 25,000 soldiers in Ukraine who have died feel about that? I mean, really, guys?”

Karoun Demirjian contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this article misstated, in one reference, the name of a group at Clemson University that studies disinformation. It is the Media Forensics Hub, not the Digital Media Hub.

How we handle corrections

Steven Lee Myers covers misinformation for The Times. He has worked in Washington, Moscow, Baghdad and Beijing, where he contributed to the articles that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2021. He is also the author of “The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin.” More about Steven Lee Myers

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

A day after securing a new term in a rubber-stamp presidential election, President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he would not back down in Russia’s war against Ukraine .

With additional American aid still in doubt, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, called for “creative, adaptable and sustainable ways” to continue arming Ukraine  and praised European allies who were trying to bolster Kyiv’s military.

Ukraine fired a volley of exploding drones  at Moscow and other targets on the final day of Russia’s presidential vote, the local authorities said, continuing a flurry of attacks timed for the election .

Symbolism or Strategy?: Ukrainians say that defending places with little strategic value is worth the cost in casualties and weapons , because the attacking Russians pay an even higher price. American officials aren’t so sure.

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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