AI-Generated Audio of Ukrainian Commander Used in Russian Disinformation
Russian Telegram channels circulated a video featuring Ukrainian military commander Andriy Biletsky with artificially generated audio claiming the government avoids identifying fallen soldiers to avoid compensation. Fact-checkers determined 99% of the audio was AI-generated and the original video contained no such claims.
What happened
Russian Telegram channels circulated a video featuring Ukrainian military commander Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Third Army Corps. In the video, audio purporting to be from Biletsky claimed that he witnessed the transfer of fallen soldiers' bodies and that Ukrainian authorities deliberately avoid identifying bodies to avoid paying compensation to families.
Fact-checkers using AI-content detection services determined that 99% of the audio in the video was artificially generated. The original video, published on May 16, 2025, contained no such claims about body identification or compensation.
Reported impact
The deepfake video spread Russian disinformation about Ukrainian military leadership and policies regarding fallen soldiers' remains.
Index analysis
The video exhibited unnatural facial expressions consistent with AI-generated content. Hive Moderation, an AI-content detection service, identified 99% of the audio as artificially generated.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.