Ukraine deepfake video — Jun 2024

Russian military and propaganda channels are increasingly utilizing videos created or edited with artificial intelligence to falsely claim the capture of Ukrainian towns and villages. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have identified this growing trend as a strategic effort to influence perceptions of the front lines.

What happened

Between June and August 2024, the ISW identified at least 35 videos suspected of being faked with AI, with 10 instances confirmed with a high degree of certainty. These materials involve service members from at least 10 different Russian regiments and brigades. Analysts believe the actual volume of manipulated content is likely higher, noting that current detection tools have significant limitations.

Specific examples cited by the ISW highlight clear technical anomalies. In a July 27 video shared by military blogger DIVGEN, a soldier appears to claim the capture of Bilyi Kolodyazh in the Kharkiv region; however, the footage displays unnatural body proportions and the soldier suddenly disappears as the camera zooms out. Another instance from August 20, published by the Telegram channel “Yuzhny Rubezh,” depicts a Russian flag placed on a house in Mykolaipillia, Donetsk region, which appears to dissolve into the building’s structure.

Even some Russian “Z-channels” have expressed skepticism regarding these claims. For example, the Telegram channel “Voenny Osvedomitiel” questioned the legitimacy of two videos purporting to show Russian control over Svyatogorsk, concluding they were likely generated by a neural network. By disseminating these fabricated materials, the Russian side aims to create a false impression of the situation on the front lines and substantiate claims of territorial control that are not supported by reality.