At first glance, the video that has been widely shared on X and TikTok since November 2 is a tearjerker. It claims to show a young Ukrainian soldier – more boy than man – crying and saying he doesn’t want to go and fight:
“They mobilised me. I am leaving for Chasiv yar [Editor’s note: a town in the Donetsk oblast, or administrative region, in eastern Ukraine]. Help me,I don’t want to die. I am only 23. Help me, please.”
“Ukraine is sending its young people to the slaughterhouse,” commented one social media user who posted the video on X. This user commonly shares both anti-Semitic and pro-Russian views.
This video isn’t the only one – dozens of similar videos have also been circulating on other social media platforms, especially TikTok. These videos claim to show Ukrainian soldiers expressing fear and reluctance to fight. But our Observers team has found that these videos are not authentic. They were generated by artificial intelligence.
##Fake videos generated by artificial intelligence
While it is true that the Ukrainian army has been reckoning with a growing number of desertions in recent months and that many Ukrainian men do want to avoid serving, these videos are fake. They were all generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
There are a few clues.
First of all, the videos of Ukrainian soldiers claiming that they don’t want to be deployed to Pokrovsk feature a watermark: an image of a small cloud and the word Sora. That’s the visual logo – or signature – of Sora 2, an artificial intelligence video generator created by OpenAI which puts these watermarks on generated videos in an attempt to prevent them from being used out of context.
Table of Contents
A wave of fabricated videos circulating on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, falsely depict Ukrainian soldiers. These videos, created using artificial intelligence, are raising concerns about the spread of disinformation amidst the ongoing conflict.
Our investigation traced the origin of these deceptive videos to a single TikTok profile, “ghost,” which has since been taken offline.The account primarily shared AI-generated content, often marked with the “Sora 2” watermark and hashtags like #fakeall and #sora2, clearly indicating their artificial nature.
One example features a purported 23-year-old soldier, which our team compared to images of a genuine Fast NIJ IIIA ballistic helmet, highlighting key discrepancies and confirming the video’s fabrication.
The proliferation of these deepfakes underscores the growing challenge of distinguishing between authentic and synthetic media, and the potential for AI to be weaponized for disinformation campaigns.
Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets Ukrainian Mobilization with Deepfakes and False Claims
A coordinated disinformation campaign, originating from Russia, is actively spreading false facts about Ukrainian military conscription in an attempt to undermine public trust, disrupt mobilization efforts, and damage Ukraine’s international standing.The campaign centers around fabricated narratives,including claims that Ukrainians are being conscripted at ages younger than the legal requirement,and utilizes deepfake technology to amplify these falsehoods.
The Core of the Disinformation: False Conscription Age
The primary tactic involves spreading claims that Ukraine is conscripting men at 22-23 years old, despite the official conscription age being 25. This false narrative is disseminated thru various online channels,including social media platforms and streaming services. according to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, the goal is to “sow distrust within Ukrainian society, disrupt mobilisation efforts and discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community.” https://www.france24.com/en/tag/military/
The CCD identified Russian-language streamers as key players in spreading these deepfakes and false claims. These individuals often present fabricated scenarios and interviews designed to appear authentic, further fueling the disinformation. The campaign leverages existing anxieties surrounding mobilization to maximize its impact.
Deepfakes and the Amplification of Falsehoods
The use of deepfake technology significantly amplifies the reach and believability of the disinformation. Deepfakes – manipulated videos or audio recordings that convincingly portray someone saying or doing something they didn’t – are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. In this case, they are used to create false narratives about the conscription process and the experiences of Ukrainian citizens.
This isn’t an isolated incident. the use of disinformation and deepfakes has been a consistent tactic employed by Russia throughout the conflict in Ukraine, aiming to destabilize the country and erode support for its defense efforts. https://x.com/CforCD/status/1985664487001899164
Ukraine’s Mobilization Laws and Current Regulations
Ukraine’s current legislation regarding military service dictates a conscription age of 25. While there have been changes to mobilization laws in recent months to address manpower challenges, these changes do not lower the conscription age. recent amendments, signed into law in April 2024, focus on strengthening accountability for draft evasion and streamlining the mobilization process. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-tightens-rules-avoiding-draft-amid-manpower-shortages-2024-04-17/
Key aspects of the updated legislation include:
* Updated Registration: Citizens are required to update their military registration information.
* Penalties for Evasion: Increased penalties for draft evasion and failure to comply with mobilization orders.
* deferment Criteria: Clarification of deferment criteria, including those related to education and employment.
These changes are intended to improve the efficiency and fairness of the mobilization process, not to lower the age of conscription.
Why This Disinformation Matters
The success of this disinformation campaign has serious consequences. By eroding trust in the government and military, it can:
* reduce Mobilization Rates: Fear and distrust can discourage eligible citizens from volunteering or complying with conscription orders.
* Fuel Social Division: False narratives can exacerbate existing tensions within Ukrainian society.
* Undermine International Support: Discrediting Ukraine’s mobilization efforts can weaken international support for the country’s defense.
Key Takeaways
* Russia is actively engaged in a disinformation campaign targeting Ukrainian mobilization.
* The campaign falsely claims Ukraine is conscripting men at ages younger than the legal limit of 25.
* Deepfake technology is being used to amplify these false narratives.
* Recent changes to Ukrainian mobilization laws focus on improving efficiency and accountability, not lowering the conscription age.
* This disinformation poses a significant threat to Ukraine’s defense efforts and social cohesion.
Looking ahead, countering this disinformation will require a multi-faceted approach, including increased media literacy education, proactive debunking of false claims, and collaboration with social media platforms to remove harmful content. Continued vigilance and a commitment to factual reporting are crucial to protecting Ukraine from these malicious attacks.
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