Russian fake: Ukrainian first classes are named after military units

Russian media, Telegram channels, and bots on X have circulated a photo allegedly showing Ukrainian first graders holding signs with their class names, such as "1-A Azov" and "1-B Bayraktar." Propagandists claim this is evidence of militarizing children in Ukraine by naming classes after military units.

This claim is false. According to AI or Not, a service for detecting photo and video manipulations, the image was created using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology.

Militarization of children is characteristic of authoritarian regimes, such as Russia's. The Yunarmiya (Young Army) in Russia has repeatedly been compared in media reports to the Hitler Youth, and some of its members have been reported killed in the war against Ukraine. Regional Russian media regularly publish obituaries for Yunarmiya members.

Russian propagandists are using Knowledge Day (September 1) to spread disinformation aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian government, military, and education system.

Previously, Russian state media invented stories about "partisans" in Odesa and alleged attacks on police over "forced mobilization."

Andriy Olenin