Russian propaganda spreading fake stories about mobilization and “abuse” in Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russian Telegram channels are spreading an image allegedly showing a Ukrainian Defense Ministry advertisement banner. The picture depicts a citylight billboard in Kyiv featuring a serviceman and another man hiding under a school desk. The poster includes the slogans: “A desk is a shelter for cowards” and “Sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine – be a real hero.”
This is fake. The image was generated using artificial intelligence. An analysis by the Hive Moderation service showed a 99.4% probability that the picture was AI-generated.
The Russian origin of the fake is also evident from a lexical mistake in the banner text. The creators used the Ukrainian word “trusiv,” which means “underwear,” apparently trying to translate the Russian word “trusov” (“cowards”). This points to automatic translation and a misunderstanding of the Ukrainian language context, as the correct Ukrainian word would have been “boiahuziv” (“cowards”).
It should be noted that the image created by the Russians included a real QR code linked to the “Contract 18-24” program. The likely aim of the propagandists was to discredit this particular initiative.
In addition, Russian propaganda Telegram channels circulated a video allegedly showing a commander of the 113th Territorial Defense Brigade abusing subordinates. In the footage, filmed from behind the backs of soldiers, a brigade officer supposedly beats a serviceman with a stick for revealing alleged abuses within the unit.
This is also fake. The video bears signs of being staged. The camera angle is arranged in a way that makes the shot “convenient” for viewers: the soldiers stand in static poses without blocking the view. The alleged “commander” is wearing full combat gear, a balaclava, and body armor, which appears unusual for a rear-area environment. Overall, the clip has suspiciously high video quality for supposedly “accidental” footage.
The original source of the video is an anonymous TikTok account. Only six videos have been posted on the account, the first appearing on April 21. Half of the videos consist of footage of destruction caused by Russian attacks accompanied by Ukrainian music. This is a common tactic used to disguise accounts as pro-Ukrainian resources before spreading disinformation. The other three videos, allegedly filmed in different frontline areas, also show signs of fabrication.
In other words, the source of the abuse video is an anonymous TikTok account created specifically to spread fake videos about the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Center for Countering Disinformation also confirmed that the video is fake. Analysts pointed out that the uniforms worn by the people in the footage lack any identifying insignia that would allow them to be linked to a specific military unit. In addition, the “commander’s” voice sounds robotic, indicating that AI technology was used to overlay audio onto pre-recorded staged footage.
Russian propaganda is increasingly using combined disinformation methods – from AI-generated images to anonymous social media accounts posing as Ukrainian sources. The above-mentioned fakes are aimed at undermining mobilization and recruitment efforts in Ukraine, creating the illusion of internal conflict within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and discrediting the Ukrainian military.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, Russian propaganda had earlier circulated a fake video about the alleged “abuse” of a Territorial Recruitment Center employee.
By Andrii Olenin
