Image of Belarus' Lukashenko detained by Ukrainian…

Following heightened geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Belarus, a fabricated image circulated on social media in July 2026 purportedly showing Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko being apprehended by Ukrainian forces. The claim, which spread across Facebook in both Burmese and English, lacked any official verification and was debunked by evidence of the leader's continued public appearances.

What happened

The incident began on July 6, 2026, when social media posts claimed that Ukrainian fighters had captured Lukashenko directly from Belarusian territory. The accompanying image depicted the leader being held by two uniformed soldiers wearing Ukrainian flag patches. However, official reports confirmed that no such arrest had occurred. In fact, Lukashenko was documented attending official ceremonies in the capital on the same day the claim spread, and he held meetings with Russian officials later that month.

Technical analysis revealed that the image was created using Google's AI tools. A close inspection of the file displayed the Gemini logo in the bottom right corner, while the image contained numerous visual artifacts typical of synthetic media, including a floating handcuff, inconsistent military badges, and discrepancies regarding the presence of SBU Security Service patches on the soldiers' uniforms. Further investigation using Google's SynthID detection tool officially flagged the content as AI-generated. The disinformation emerged against a backdrop of diplomatic friction, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously accused the Belarusian government of assisting Russian drone attacks, leading to warnings between the two nations.