Russia Turns to AI Videos to Fake Battlefield Success Near Kostiantynivka, ISW Says - UNITED24 Media

On June 15, 2026, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russia is deploying AI-generated footage to fabricate claims of battlefield advancements near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka. These digital materials are being used to project a narrative of Russian victory, despite ongoing combat in the region.

What happened

Russian sources circulated videos purportedly showing troops raising Russian flags on the western outskirts of Kostiantynivka and in the nearby village of Dovha Balka. The ISW assessed that this footage was likely generated using artificial intelligence, noting its consistency with previous Russian information operations designed to exaggerate territorial gains.

According to Brigadier General Oleksandr Bakulin, commander of Ukraine’s 19th Army Corps, these claims serve to support false reports already submitted by Russian commanders to their military leadership. While Russian sources present the city as being under their control, the ISW clarifies that this is part of a broader campaign intended to reinforce the narrative that Ukrainian defenses are on the verge of collapse. The ISW noted that recent battlefield trends, characterized by a slowing pace of Russian advances across the front, do not support the claims made in these videos. These efforts appear to be a strategic attempt to amplify perceptions of progress during a period of stalled offensive operations.