Russia fabricates military claims with AI-generated flag-raising videos in Kostyantynivka
Russia reportedly used AI-generated videos of flag-raising in Kostyantynivka on 15 June 2026 to falsely claim military successes, according to the Institute for the Study of War. The videos showed Russian troops at multiple locations in the city, contradicting Ukrainian military assessments of the actual tactical situation.
What happened
On 15 June 2026, Russia released videos showing Russian troops raising Russian flags at locations in Kostyantynivka, including the western outskirts, southwest of the city, and in Doha Balka. Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed the same day that Russian forces had captured Doha Balka.
The Institute for the Study of War stated it had grounds to believe the flag-raising videos were AI-generated, consistent with previous Russian information operations using AI videos to claim battlefield advances. Commander of the 19th Army Corps of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksandr Bakulin, stated on 15 June that Russian commanders had already reported to higher command that Russian forces had captured Kostyantynivka and were now attacking to validate those claims.
Reported impact
Bakulin assessed that approximately 93 to 153 Russian infiltrators were in Kostyantynivka, describing estimates of 250–300 Russian soldiers as somewhat exaggerated. He stated that Ukraine's tactical situation in Kostyantynivka was deteriorating but that the Russian Ministry of Defence falsely represented a potential future capture of the city as a harbinger of imminent capture of the entire fortress belt and the rest of Donetsk region.
Index analysis
ISW assessed that Russian forces would likely achieve tactical gains in Kostyantynivka during summer 2026 but would be unlikely to achieve rapid operational breakthrough to capture the fortress belt. The Institute assessed that Russia's current information warfare actions regarding Kostyantynivka were part of a wider pattern of Russian disinformation operations about the conflict.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.