A widely circulated video appearing to show a Ukrainian man claiming to be underage and forcibly conscripted has been identified as a likely AI-generated deepfake, according to an analysis by BBC Verify. The video, which spread rapidly across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, was used to fuel anti-Ukraine narratives and discourage support for the country.
The deepfake’s creation likely involved OpenAI’s Sora, a text-to-video AI model, though the watermark typically associated with the tool was absent from the circulated clip. Experts point to the video’s short duration – comprised of a four-second and a ten-second clip – as a key indicator of AI generation, as current models struggle to produce longer, continuous footage. the claim that the individual was underage also raises suspicion, given Ukraine’s conscription laws apply to men aged 25 to 60 who are deemed fit for service.
The TikTok account that initially posted the video has as been removed, and BBC Verify has requested clarification from the platform regarding the deletion. The deepfake garnered meaningful traction, with one post on X amassing nearly two million views, and captions were specifically targeted at ukraine’s allies, urging them to withdraw support. This incident highlights the growing threat of AI-powered disinformation campaigns and their potential to influence public opinion and geopolitical narratives.
