Report claiming Zelenskyy’s security guard caused a brawl at a U.S. bar is fabricated

By: Ishita Goel
September 29 2023

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X and Facebook posts claim that Zelenskyy’s security guard fought after drinking (Source: X/Facebook/Screenshot)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the U.S. on September 19, 2023, to address the United Nations General Assembly. This was his first in-person U.N. address since Moscow began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

What's the claim?

A video presented as a news-style report alleges that Zelenskyy's security guard got drunk and was involved in a quarrel at a bar in the U.S. The text accompanying the video states: "A member of the Ukrainian delegation has staged a drunken brawl in New York. The incident took place on September 21 at The Campbell Bar. The bar is close to the UN's New York Offices. A security officer of the Ukrainian delegation, which arrived in the United States with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, required bar visitors to shout "Glory to Ukraine"..." 

This video was shared on Facebook and X with similar claims. An archived version can be seen here and here. 

Screenshot of viral posts making the false claim. (Source: X/Facebook/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

What is the reality?

The viral video presents a news report that appears to be attributed to USA Today, identified by its distinctive logo and formatting. However, an exhaustive search of their website and social media accounts yielded no matching results. Further, no credible news media organizations have corroborated this incident. 

The video frame of the Campbell bar reported in the video doesn't match the real-world image as seen on Google Street View. Also, Campbell has shared a map on their website, and we can see no trees on the pavement right outside the bar, as seen in the viral video. 

Comparison of viral video frames of Campbell bar to Google Street View (Source: X/Google Maps/ Screenshots/ Modified by Logically Facts)

A USA Today spokesperson also told Logically Facts, “The video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) using the USA TODAY logo and branding is fake. We have filed a claim on false information with the platform to halt the immediate spread of misinformation.” The spokesperson also pointed us to their fact-check in which Scott Gerber, CEO of Gerber Group, which owns the Campbell bar, told USA Today that "no incident or fight took place at The Campbell."

We could not corroborate any report on the New York Police website on any arrests following a pub brawl, as claimed in the viral video. The New York Police Department told USA Today that “there are no complaint reports on file” that collaborate with the allegations. 

Geolocating the place of the fight seen in the viral video

Image showing location of the brawl. (Source: Google Maps/ Screenshots/ Modified by Logically Facts)

At 0:29 seconds of the viral video, we could discern slightly blurred letters spelling "SOHO." Upon searching on Google Maps, we managed to geo-locate the place as Soho Boutique at 1113 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, New York. The street view of the location matched the location of the brawl seen in the viral video. The same signage next to Soho Boutique seen in the viral video could be clearly seen in the street view version, which appeared to be of “Joe’s-Joes’s Green Bar.” 

Comparison of viral video frames to Google Street View (Source: X/Google Maps/ Screenshots/ Modified by Logically Facts)

Further, the fight took place on the opposite side of the boutique. Taking clues from the viral video of the blue banner and "DEP" on the signboard at 0:32, we could conclude that "DEP" matched the "GIFT DEPOT" board located opposite Soho Boutique on the other side of the road as seen in street view.

Comparison of viral video frames to Google Street View (Source: X/Google Maps/ Screenshots/ Modified by Logically Facts)

Also, the distance between Soho Boutique and "The Campell" bar on Google Maps was found to be around 13.6 miles or a 41-minute ride. 

The verdict

It is clear that the video in question is fabricated, and USA Today also confirmed they have published no such report. Geo-locating clips from the viral video evidenced that the fight did not happen anywhere near the bar mentioned in the claim. Therefore, we have marked the claim as false.