Deepfake or genuine disinformation?
Russians have circulated a forged photo near the borders of Dnipropetrovsk region, but the actual situation turned out to be completely different from what propagandists tried to depict. The information quickly spread on social media, causing concern among local residents and official regional defense authorities. However, according to regional leaders, the true picture is far from the new Russian frantic propaganda, and the widely circulated photo among users is fake. According to official statements, the source of the disseminated disinformation was the Deepstate project – an analytical initiative that monitors the accuracy of information in media and social networks. The main commentator on the situation in Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhii Lysak, stated that the shared photo with Russians is a provocation. "False information is spreading online claiming that Russian troops allegedly broke through to the borders of Dnipropetrovsk region. This is an absolute fake!" – emphasized the regional head. He also noted that the images are fabricated and have nothing to do with reality. At the same time, analysts, referencing a detailed investigation, reported that the photo was taken against the backdrop of a Ukrainian pickup truck near the combat zone. It turned out that the picture was taken in the area of the settlement Troitske, where Ukrainian soldiers got entangled in barbed wire during a nighttime operation. In the morning, Russian militants, having received this photo, quickly forwarded it through their propaganda channels to create the illusion of a breakthrough into Ukrainian territory. Moreover, during a subsequent operation, Ukrainian defenders eliminated a group of Russian terrorists spreading this disinformation. The head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration (OVA) clearly emphasized that this “information attack” aims to intimidate the region’s population, sow panic, and destabilize the situation. According to him, the publication under the guise of a “Russian breakthrough” is a deliberate false news provoked by the enemy, which in no way reflects the real state of hostilities in the region. Experts say this type of disinformation is a classic tactic of Russian propagandists, aimed at creating the illusion of success in enemy military operations to undermine trust in Ukrainian military forces and government. In Dnipropetrovsk region, it is considered important to continue carefully analyzing events and not to panic, since the truth is on the side of Ukrainian defenders, and the situation is actually under control. Thus, the “news” about the Russian breakthrough to the Dnipropetrovsk border, circulated on social networks, proved to be yet another attempt at informational manipulation. This is a vivid example of how critical it is to approach any reports with skepticism and trust official sources during hybrid warfare.