Russian Military Bloggers and Ministry of Defense Use AI Deepfakes to Claim Uncaptured Towns

Russian military forces are creating artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos to fake victories on the frontlines and claim control over Ukrainian cities they do not hold, according to analysts and sources close to Russian leader Vladimir Putin cited by the Financial Times .

Analysts have identified at least 35 videos from Russian units and military bloggers that appear to have been generated or modified using AI technology.

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These fake reports are creating practical issues for Russian forces, driving commanders to order advances into areas from which their units have already retreated, which leads to additional casualties.

The practice highlights a significant gap between official Russian claims and reality: while Putin stated that Russian forces seized 6,500 square kilometers of territory since the start of the year, independent analysts have verified a maximum of 1,500 square kilometers, the Financial Times reported.

One documented case occurred in Dobropillia, where Russian commanders reported taking the city to Putin in mid-October. The Russian Ministry of Defense released video footage showing soldiers and flags among ruins.

However, the flag abruptly shifts position during one frame. “Without a doubt, this segment was forged,” said Ruslan Leviev, head of the OSINT organization Conflict Intelligence Team.

In a similar incident in Bilyi Kolodiaz in the Kharkiv region, a video published on July 27 by military blogger Divgen depicted a five-meter-tall Russian soldier raising a flag before dissolving into the greenery. A week later, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces had entered the village, even though the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported Russian troops remained 10 kilometers away.

A week later, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces had entered the village, even though the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported Russian troops remained 10 kilometers away. Analysts warn that identifying such deepfakes will become increasingly difficult as the technology advances.

“These videos are part of a broader narrative or cognitive-warfare campaign intended to assert the inevitability of a Russian victory in Ukraine,” said Daniel Mealie, leader of the geospatial intelligence team at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, according to the Financial Times. “The Kremlin has an interest in fostering the false narrative that Ukraine’s front line is collapsing and that the West should give up.”

In June 2026, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) documented the widespread publication of videos by Russian sources that used AI technology to fake flag-raising ceremonies in Ukrainian settlements.

Between June 1 and August 30, researchers identified at least 35 suspicious clips, with commercial detection systems confirming with high confidence that at least 10 had been altered using artificial intelligence.

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