This thesis was spread on social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that after meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyi, many politicians allegedly “retired or died”. The authors add photos of politicians and military personnel who previously met with Zelenskyi to the publication. The authors of the message add that, for example, Xi Jinping does not want to repeat the fate of his predecessors and meet with the head of Ukraine because of Zelenskyi's “damned handshake”.

The VoxCheck project specialists worked on the case and found that the allegation of “Zelenskyi’s damned handshake” is unfounded. At the same time, in the photo, the propagandists brought both active servicemen and former ones. That is, there is no “certain pattern” between the meeting with the President and the “further fate” of another person. For example, the photo shows the following current politicians: President of the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate of Oman Abdulsalam al-Murshidi, Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kallas, etc. Others remained in office long after meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

That is, the resignation of politicians is not connected with Zelenskyi, they resigned for various reasons and at different times after the meeting with the President of Ukraine.