{
  "id": 14008859,
  "title": "“Zelenskyy is helping Democrats”: Trump’s MAGA base accuses Ukraine of trying to swing US midterms, says journalist in US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/zelenskyy-is-helping-democrats-trumps-maga-base-accuses-ukraine-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T17:19:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euromaidan Press",
    "slug": "euromaidan-press",
    "url": "https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/10/12/zelenskyy-is-helping-democrats-trumps-maga-base-accuses-ukraine-of-trying-to-swing-us-midterms-says-journalist-in-us/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "With the US midterm elections looming, the Republican base in the United States has a new scapegoat for high fuel prices: Ukraine. Ukrainian journalist Ostap Yarysh, residing in the United States, claims that the MAGA wing of American conservatives is alleging that Ukraine intentionally targets Russian oil refineries to inflate fuel prices, thereby aiding the Democratic Party ahead of the November congressional elections. This accusation positions Ukraine refinery strikes as a deliberate political maneuver against Republicans and has proliferated from anonymous online sources to national television and congressional members, Yarysh reports. However, experts attribute the surge in fuel prices primarily to the US-Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, rather than Ukraine's actions or even Russia's reported 300,000 tons of diesel fuel. The narrative is disseminated through prominent American figures. Utah Senator Mike Lee tweeted that \"Zelenskyy is working overtime. To help Democrats in November,\" while Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy labeled Zelenskyy as ungrateful for persistently bombing refineries and complicating Trump's position prior to the midterms. Blogger Jack Posobiec, with a vast online following, has urged Washington to cease sharing intelligence with Ukraine and terminate its financial support, framing the strikes as a plot to undermine Trump before the vote. When faced with an unsolvable issue, Yarysh suggests, the strategy is to manipulate the narrative. The Republicans' weak standing heading into the vote is primarily due to the economy and the surge in domestic fuel prices, which the anticipated Russian diesel cannot rectify. Blaming Ukraine, Yarysh contends, serves two objectives: it deflects voter discontent onto an external adversary, and it provides Trump with a convenient rationale if Republicans falter in November, suggesting that Zelenskyy set him up to lose to Democrats. Not all on the right subscribe to this blame game. Yarysh cites far-right advocate Laura Loomer, who contends that procuring Russian oil replenishes Iran's regime coffers, which she asserts chants \"Death to America.\" Buying Russian oil, Loomer argues, returns funds to the Islamic regime of Iran, which repeatedly declares its enmity towards America.",
  "summary": "The narrative runs across all levels of the US information space, from anonymous accounts to national television.",
  "key_points": [
    "MAGA Republicans blame Ukraine for fuel price inflation ahead of US midterm elections",
    "Ukrainian journalist Ostap Yarysh claims Ukraine targets Russian oil refineries to aid Democrats",
    "Experts attribute fuel price surge to US-Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Insider",
        "title": "MAGA apostles: Evangelical support for Trump is inspiring populists worldwide",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/maga-apostles-evangelical-support-for-trump-is-inspiring-populists",
        "published": "2026-10-12T16:59:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}