Fake street interviews are actively spreading on TikTok, allegedly showing ordinary Ukrainians sharing their views on the war, mobilization, or peace talks. Analysts from the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council have drawn attention to this.

These videos are created using AI, follow an identical style, and feature “respondents” who express only pessimistic narratives.

In the videos, the characters speak out against mobilization, call the war “pointless”, accuse the authorities of “derailing peace”, and promote ideas about the “unnecessity” of returning the occupied territories.

Checks using deepfake detection services confirm that all of the videos are entirely generated by artificial intelligence. This is yet another case of Russia using AI in its information war against Ukraine.

When a person sees dozens of “ordinary Ukrainians” repeating the same messages, they subconsciously perceive it as a social norm (“everyone thinks this way”). The propagandists’ goal is therefore to show that “everyone around” is already tired, no longer believes in victory, and opposes mobilization – creating an illusion of mass pessimism and isolating those who continue to resist.

Russian propaganda has launched a new video fake to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Enemy Telegram channels are spreading a clip in which a so-called “Ukrainian soldier”, tied to a tree, is allegedly being punished by his commanders “for drinking”.

This was flagged by fact-checkers from the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

This is a fake, analysts say. Deepfake detection services confirm that the man’s face was generated by AI. In reality, such “punishments” are a typical practice in the Russian army itself. There are numerous videos online showing Russian soldiers being tied up and beaten for disciplinary violations.

Such videos, spread by hostile Telegram channels, are aimed at Ukrainians who are hesitant about mobilization, relatives of service members, and residents of frontline regions. By showing alleged “punishment” for drinking in the form of being tied to a tree, the enemy seeks to sow fear and distrust toward military command and to discourage people from serving.

For the international community, through translated versions, a narrative is being created that “both sides are equally brutal”, which blurs the moral distinction between the aggressor and the victim and reduces support for Ukraine.