Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels are distributing AI-generated videos of Ukrainian lawmakers Andriy Levus and Ivan Yunakov appearing to call for peace and lament the conflict. NewsGuard identified the footage as artificial, noting unnatural blinking, flat voices, and stiff facial expressions. Levus seems to advocate for peace talks while Yunakov appears to mourn lost territory. These clips accumulated 130,000 views within two weeks, demonstrating how artificial intelligence amplifies propaganda. A similar deepfake of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling for surrender emerged in 2022, though this version is technically superior. Many other fakes likely remain undetected by the public.
The core issue is that these videos achieve their objective regardless of verification. If observers fail to catch the deception, the false message spreads unchallenged. Conversely, debunking the content still erodes trust in public information and poisons democratic discourse. The damage occurs whether the audience believes the lie or dismisses it as fake.
* The videos feature former Security Service deputy Andriy Levus and Ivan Yunakov from President Zelenskyy’s party.
* Natural blinking patterns and voice inconsistencies reveal the artificial origin.
* Trust in digital information suffers even after successful fact-checking.
