Russia uses generative AI to create fake battlefield footage

The Ukrainian OSINT group DeepState has reported that Russian forces are increasingly utilizing generative artificial intelligence to create fake combat footage. This tactic aims to simulate territorial gains and military successes that have not occurred on the ground.

Analysts identified visual inconsistencies in a video purportedly showing Russian troops near the Oskil River. Notable discrepancies included buildings morphing from hangars into residential houses and anatomical deformities in the proportions of the soldiers. DeepState has termed this phenomenon “AI flag-planting.”

This digital approach appears to be an evolution of traditional propaganda tactics, where small units were previously sent into high-risk areas solely to plant flags for video evidence. By using AI, Russian command can theoretically create the illusion of progress without exposing soldiers to the physical risks of being captured or killed during such missions.