AI-Generated Videos Spread False Claims of Ukrainian Soldiers' Demoralization

Since early November, social media has been flooded with ultrarealistic, AI-generated videos that appear to show Ukrainian soldiers surrendering and expressing distress on the front lines.

These videos, superficially similar to real footage from the conflict zone, initially lack obvious signs of manipulation. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. Aleksei Gubanov, a Russian livestreamer now living in New York, noticed a disturbing detail: his own face was being used.

Gubanov, who fled Russia after criticizing President Vladimir Putin and now streams video games and chats on Twitch, stated, "At first I didn’t take it seriously, but soon I noticed how quickly the view count was growing and, even worse, how many people believed these videos were real."

He further explained that "Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of users were leaving comments expressing condolences to the supposedly Ukrainian soldiers in the videos and directing anger toward the Ukrainian leadership."

Gubanov, who has never served in any army, was shocked to discover that an AI-generated video was using his likeness to spread false information about the morale of Ukrainian troops.

In one video, the AI-generated Gubanov, wearing a Ukrainian uniform, says in Russian: "We were taken to draft commission and sent here. Now we are being taken to Pokrovsk. We don’t want to. Please. Mom, Mom, I don’t want!"

NBC News reviewed this video, and 20 others like it, confirming their AI-generated nature.