AI-Generated Deepfake Video Spreads Disinformation About Moldovan Military Exercises
A deepfake video spread on Telegram in August 2025 falsely depicting military exercise participants shooting at targets shaped like Russian soldiers, combining AI-generated frames with archival footage from past exercises. Moldova's Ministry of Defence publicly identified the video as fabricated disinformation aimed at sowing fear and undermining public trust.
What happened
A deepfake video circulated on Telegram in August 2025 depicting military exercise participants shooting at targets shaped like Russian soldiers during the 'Fiery Shield' exercises in Moldova.
The Moldovan Ministry of Defence stated that the video contained AI-generated frames interspersed with archival footage from other international exercises, and that aircraft, parachute jumps, terrain, and other elements did not reflect the actual 'Fiery Shield 2025' exercises.
Reported impact
The Ministry of Defence characterized the video's purpose as intended to 'sow fear, undermine trust in state institutions and destabilize society.'
Index analysis
The deepfake video combined artificially generated footage with archival material from past exercises to create a false narrative about the 'Fiery Shield' exercises held from 4 to 18 August 2025, which involved troops from Moldova, Romania and the United States.
Governance controls
The Moldovan Ministry of Defence publicly identified and debunked the deepfake video, calling on citizens not to fall for the disinformation.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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