Russian propaganda uses AI to spread fake “cardboard…

Russian disinformation campaigns have recently utilized artificial intelligence to fabricate images depicting civil unrest and to manipulate visuals of Ukrainian leadership. These coordinated efforts aim to discredit state institutions and foster hostility within Ukrainian society by exploiting sensitive political topics.

What happened

Propaganda outlets disseminated images purportedly showing a rally in Lviv where individuals in balaclavas held a sign with the slogan, "Cut down TRCs like cardboard." Analysis revealed this image was AI-generated, evidenced by text fonts characteristic of synthetic media and a 93% probability score from detection services.

In a separate incident, Russian media and social media accounts circulated a photograph of President Volodymyr Zelensky appearing to speak from behind a transparent protective screen. Propagandists claimed this reflected the President's fear of assassination attempts during mass protests. Fact-checking confirmed this was fake; the original footage, published on July 16 during a visit by former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, shows no such protective glass. The circulated photograph contained visual artifacts, including a distorted section of the Mariinskyi Palace wall, indicating it was likely created or altered using AI. These incidents represent a broader strategy by Russian actors to manipulate public perception regarding military recruitment centers and the Ukrainian government.