DISINFO: Suicidal Cybertruck explosion at Trump Hotel may be a Ukrainian operation
SUMMARY
The suspect who blew up a Cybertruck car outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas had pictures on social media wearing a ‘Slava Ukraini’ T-shirt, which begs the question of whether he ever travelled to Ukraine or had any contacts with Ukrainian intelligence. An attack on the Trump Tower could very well be tied to Ukraine. Because they recognise Donald Trump is going to potentially bring an end to this war.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory not backed by evidence, exploiting the detonation of a Cybertruck vehicle outside a Trump building in Las Vegas on 01 January 2025 to advance a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative trying to associate Ukraine with terrorism. As part of this wider campaign, since early 2024, Russian authorities have tried without evidence to link Ukraine to terror incidents in places like Moscow, Dagestan, Slovakia, or invented a Ukrainian connection to fictitious terror scenarios in Syria, Africa, Hungary or the US.
The author of the blast was identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger, an active-duty US Army Green Beret who died in the explosion and left a letter explaining his motivations. Nothing suggested the participation of any additional actor. Contrary to this disinformation story, showing support for Ukraine on social media is not proof of links with the Ukrainian intelligence services.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the Kyiv regime is a global terrorist threat, that Ukraine is involved in the assassination attempt on Trump, that Ukraine may be involved in the attempt on Slovakia’s PM Robert Fico, or that Kyiv is behind the attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow.
This disinformation narrative appeared in the same article as the claim that “Official version in New Orleans attack may be FBI fabrication like Russia-gate”.