The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used comments from a Russian propagandist that falsely reflected the views of the Ukrainian community in the United States regarding the upcoming presidential elections. The incident was noted by Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak, president of the Illinois Division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA).
“Yesterday, we were approached to record voice notes about what Ukrainian Americans think about [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy’s meeting with [Vice President Kamala] Harris and [Donald] Trump. It was on very short notice (the program was airing in 20 minutes), most of us were at work and on a tight schedule, but we did it, we sent three recordings,” she said.
It emerged that the BBC aired a recording of a Soviet-era communist, who was unfamiliar to anyone in the community, and had spoken about the sentiments of Ukrainian Americans in Chicago.
The pro-Russian commentator claimed that “all voters of Ukrainian descent (including herself) are tired of the war and are waiting for Trump to end it, and that Ukrainians are the most corrupt in the world.”
“She also used terms like ‘Kyiv regime’ and referred to the war as a conflict. Well, it’s clear where the talking points come from,” Dmytriv-Kapeniak said., alluding to Russian propaganda speaking points.
Dmytriv-Kapeniak reached out to the BBC for clarification.
“BBC News responded to my letter, apologized, and added recordings of Chicago Ukrainian Americans voices to their program today [Sept. 30]. Lesson learned – stand up for the truth, be vocal, be persistent,” she said.
Last month, the Illinois Division of the UCCA staged protests at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago on Sept. 9 and 11. Community members called for manufacturers of advanced automated machinery, including Computer Numerical Control machines and their components, to cease their exports to Russia.
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