The Kremlin is increasingly targeting Ukraine and its
Russian propagandists disseminated an AI-generated deepfake video depicting soldiers from the 46th Separate Airborne Brigade falsely claiming they were.
- Reported date
- Sep 28, 2026
- Target
- 46th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
The exact incident date was not established. This entry is dated by its source report.
In early September, Russian propagandists launched a disinformation campaign targeting the 46th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The attack utilized an AI-generated video designed to demoralize the public and undermine trust in the Ukrainian military command by creating a false narrative of internal chaos and desertion.
What happened
The incident involved a doctored video featuring three individuals presented as Ukrainian soldiers. In the footage, a voiceover claims that the unit had been decimated following a redeployment to a new section of the front, leading the alleged survivors to abandon their posts. The video was specifically crafted to voice common Russian propaganda narratives, including claims regarding the futility of resistance and the existence of enormous losses within the Ukrainian ranks.
Specialized digital fact-checking services confirmed that the video was an enemy fabrication. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, this operation was part of a broader strategy to sow panic and create an illusion of disorder within the Ukrainian Defense Forces. By simulating the voices and appearances of soldiers, the attackers aimed to elicit an immediate emotional reaction from viewers, hoping to destabilize public sentiment and weaken support for the military. The Center for Countering Disinformation successfully debunked the video, identifying it as a deliberate attempt to manipulate the information space through synthetic media.