Russian propaganda spreads AI-generated fake investigation alleging “corruption" in Ukraine’s defense procurement system

Russian Telegram channels and bot accounts on X have been circulating a video purporting to be an investigation by Ukrainian journalists into the alleged falsification of reports by Ukrainian servicemembers regarding drone strikes against Russian personnel and equipment. According to the claims, Ukrainian soldiers supposedly upload fake, outdated, or AI-generated videos of successful strikes into the Delta battlefield management system. Russian propagandists further allege that the drones themselves are being “sold off” by Ukrainian troops, who then use reward points earned through the internal eBaly bonus system to order new weapons.

The video's creators also claim that a platform called StrikeVidMarket exists, where stock footage and AI-generated military-themed videos are allegedly available. According to the propaganda narrative, this enables Ukrainian soldiers to manipulate enemy casualty statistics and “profit” from the war.

This claim is false. The circulated video does not identify any authors or editorial team supposedly responsible for the investigation. It contains no media logo or other indicators of a legitimate journalistic report. Moreover, its creators provide no evidence to support any of the allegations.

Analysis of the audio track using the Hive Moderation service assessed the probability that the narrator’s voice was AI-generated at 99.3%.

The video itself combines authentic footage of strikes on Russian military equipment with clips taken from Brave1 Market, an online platform through which Ukrainian military units can procure strike systems, ground robotic platforms, and other equipment needed at the front.

The first reports about this alleged “scheme” appeared on a fake Telegram channel impersonating the official page of the 79th Separate Tavriia Air Assault Brigade. Fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked false claims published by this channel in the past.

Russian-language posts promoting the story also reference the alleged StrikeVidMarket platform, where stock and AI-generated combat footage is supposedly hosted. However, no active website by that name could be found. The domain strikevidmarket.biz does not appear in website verification services, and there are no references to the platform in publicly accessible search engines.

It is worth noting that Ukraine’s digital procurement and inventory management systems are among the key elements of the modernization of the country’s defense sector and represent an important advantage over Russia’s military administration. Within the eBaly (ePoints) incentive system, military units earn points for destroying enemy equipment, eliminating enemy personnel, and conducting rescue operations. These points can later be exchanged for needed equipment through specialized online platforms.

The primary purpose of these digital solutions is to accelerate logistics, improve procurement transparency, and ensure rapid delivery of critical resources to frontline units. They also enable more efficient asset tracking and faster responses to military needs.

Ukraine’s Delta system includes mechanisms for verifying uploaded materials, including strike footage. Russian propaganda has repeatedly attempted to discredit Ukraine’s digital military tools and cast doubt on official data regarding Russian military losses.

This fake story is part of a broader Kremlin campaign aimed at undermining confidence in Ukraine’s technological advantages. By fabricating reports and inventing nonexistent platforms, Russian propagandists seek to erode trust in Ukraine’s defense procurement system.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, Russian propaganda earlier spread another false claim alleging the “ineffectiveness” of Ukrainian drone specialists operating in the Middle East.

Andrii Olenin