AIToday
AI Safety & AlignmentAI Regulation & PolicyTHE DECODERPublished: Aug 26, 2026, 22:00 JST1 min read

Pro-Kremlin deepfakes target Ukrainian lawmakers

Pro-Kremlin deepfakes target Ukrainian lawmakers

Key takeaway

  • Pro-Kremlin channels are spreading AI deepfakes of two Ukrainian lawmakers.

  • The videos show them calling for peace and mourning lost territory.

  • They gathered 130,000 views in two weeks.

3 Key Points

  1. What happened

    Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels are spreading AI-generated deepfake videos of two Ukrainian lawmakers, Andriy Levus and Ivan Yunakov, that appear to show them calling for peace and mourning lost territory. The videos show AI artifacts like unnatural blinking and flat voices.

  2. Why it matters

    The videos accumulated 130,000 views in two weeks, illustrating how AI can amplify propaganda. Even if debunked, they erode trust in public information and poison democratic discourse, as the article notes.

  3. What to watch

    A similar but cruder deepfake of President Zelenskyy appeared in 2022, and many others likely go undetected, according to the article.

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Context & Analysis

The spread of these deepfakes comes amid ongoing information warfare, with the article noting a similar 2022 video targeting President Zelenskyy, though that one was technically crude by today's standards. This incident highlights how AI-generated content can be used to create disinformation that is harder to detect, as the artifacts are becoming more subtle. The article emphasizes that even when debunked, such videos still work to undermine trust in public information and democratic discourse, suggesting a persistent threat where the message's impact is not fully mitigated by fact-checking.

FAQ

Who are the Ukrainian lawmakers featured in the deepfake videos?
The videos feature Andriy Levus, former deputy head of the Ukrainian Security Service, and Ivan Yunakov from Zelenskyy's party.
What do the deepfake videos depict?
Levus appears to call for peace talks, while Yunakov mourns the loss of territory. Both videos show AI artifacts like unnatural blinking and flat voices.
How many views did the videos get?
The videos accumulated 130,000 views in two weeks.

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