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Spilnota Detector Media
Detector Media collects and documents real-time chronicles of the Kremlin propaganda about the Russian invasion. Ukraine for decades has been suffering from Kremlin propaganda. Here we document all narratives, messages, and tactics, which Russia is using from February 17th, 2022. Reminder: the increasing of shelling and fighting by militants happened on the 17th of February 2022 on the territory of Ukraine. Russian propaganda blames Ukraine for these actions

On 20 February, on the 1457th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2732
Fake
816
Manipulation
775
Message
559
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

The fake video about the “disappearance of half a brigade” was created using AI

A video is actively circulating on social media, particularly on TikTok, in which a woman emotionally claims that her husband, a serviceman, has gone missing and that the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is completely covering up the situation. She also alleges that half of the personnel in his brigade have supposedly disappeared. This is a high-quality video fake (deepfake) created using artificial intelligence technologies. The fake was debunked by experts from VoxCheck.

VoxCheck experts conducted a thorough analysis of the video, which confirmed that it is not authentic:

  • Facial expressions and movement: The “soldier’s wife” shows typical signs of AI-generated content. During the speech, almost only the lips move, while the overall facial expression remains unnaturally static.
  • Voice: The audio track sounds overly even and has a characteristic robotic tone, which is common in synthesized speech.
  • Technical confirmation: A check using the specialized tool Sensity.AI confirmed that the clip is AI-generated with a 99% probability. The program also identified a lipsync manipulation – artificially matching lip movements to a synthesized voice.

The TikTok account that posted this fake video is systematically used to spread AI-generated content aimed at discrediting Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

Propagandists rely on the same manipulative themes and visual archetypes to provoke maximum public reaction and distrust toward military command:

  • “Soldiers’ wives complain” about missing servicemen and alleged indifference from commanders.
  • “Elderly people protest” against the presence of military units in their communities.
  • “Servicemen claim” that they were “abandoned” or “betrayed” by their command.

This video is part of a coordinated enemy information operation aimed at demoralizing society, undermining trust in military leadership, and spreading panic by using realistic but entirely fake “testimonies” generated by AI characters.

Fake: Zelensky allegedly bought a ranch in Wyoming

Russian propaganda Telegram channels and social media accounts (X, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram) are widely spreading false information claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly purchased the “Pathfinder” ranch in the state of Wyoming (USA) for an astronomical sum of $79.5 million. This disinformation campaign is a typical attempt to undermine trust in Ukraine’s leadership both among Ukrainians and international partners, by creating the image of a “corrupt elite” enriching itself during wartime. This fake was analyzed in detail by fact-checkers from Gvara Media.

To “confirm” this mythical deal, propagandists are using a specially produced video with Russian subtitles and English voice-over, which allegedly reveals details of the purchase.

An analysis of the “evidence” revealed several key manipulations:

  • Fake source: The video refers to the brokerage company Swan Land Company and its website, swanlandco.us, claiming that the first public announcement of the deal appeared there on October 24.
  • One-day website: A check of archived versions of the swanlandco.us domain via the Wayback Machine showed clear signs of a “one-day website”: the domain has a very short history, was created specifically for this disinformation campaign, and is currently inaccessible.
  • Primary source of propaganda: The claim was widely amplified by well-known Russian propaganda channels that systematically spread Kremlin disinformation.

Fact-checkers from Gvara Media also found an official denial from the brokerage company that had listed the ranch for sale. In a statement published in the Wyoming local newspaper Cowboy State Daily, Swan Land Company categorically refuted online rumors that the “Pathfinder” ranch had been purchased by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The story about Zelensky purchasing a ranch is entirely fabricated and is part of a long-running Kremlin disinformation campaign aimed at creating a false image of Ukraine’s leadership living in luxury at the expense of Western aid. The disinformers used a fake video “proof” and a hastily created bogus website to lend “credibility” to their lies.

Andrii Pylypenko, Lesia Bidochko, Oleksandr Siedin, Kostiantyn Zadyraka, and Oleksiy Pivtorak are collaborating on this chronicle. Ksenia Ilyuk is the author of the project.