A hacker group, potentially associated with the Ukrainian government, allegedly took control of radio and TV broadcasts, using them to transmit a falsified message attributed to Russian President Putin. The fabricated message claimed that the Kremlin planned to impose martial law along the Ukrainian borders, significantly reducing the civil liberties of the population.
Coinciding with the dissemination of this manipulated video, a devastating incident occurred in Ukraine when the Kakhovka dam collapsed, leading to widespread flooding. Countless individuals, wildlife, and domesticated animals were displaced from their homes and familiar environments.
The Russian military promptly responded to the circulated news, denouncing it as a fabrication and suspecting the involvement of certain military personnel in Kyiv with malicious intent.
Residents living in neighboring regions of Ukraine, such as Rostov, Belgorod, and Voronezh, found themselves perplexed by the counterfeit presidential address aired on television. They expressed their concerns through Telegram, a messaging platform.
Ukrainian news resource Nexta shared some of the manipulated videos on Twitter, highlighting the methods used to manipulate the broadcasted messages. However, the perpetrators behind the deepfake attack were not identified.
It is worth noting that advancements in artificial intelligence technology have made it easier for criminals to manipulate the voices and facial expressions of celebrities. Consequently, law enforcement agencies face increasing challenges in tracking down and apprehending those responsible for the dissemination of convincing video deepfakes.
