AI-generated video shows Indian soldier deceived into fighting for Russia

After reports emerged that families of Indian citizens were allegedly misled into joining Russia's war in Ukraine, authorities faced pressure to assist in bringing them back home. Amid this, an AI-generated video was circulated online, falsely depicting one of the recruited men appealing to the Indian government for help.

The clip, along with similar videos, had previously been posted on a Facebook page that openly shares AI-generated content. In one instance, the video shared on X on November 24, 2025, featured a Hindi caption claiming: "Are the lives of our youth so cheap? Agents deceitfully send young people to Russia under the guise of employment, and after 10 days of training, they are sent to war. A young Indian survivor of the Russia-Ukraine war is seeking help from the Indian government."

The footage shows an exhausted soldier leaning on rubble, speaking directly to the camera in Hindi: "Brothers, please help me out here. Share this video as widely as possible. There's a lot of fighting going on here. Ten people with me died, and I'm the only one left. Please get this video to the government. Please save me." Text overlaid on the video reads: "I am the only one left; all my companions are dead and martyred."

The video gained traction after families gathered in New Delhi urging the Indian government to rescue young men allegedly deceived into fighting for Russia. According to reports, these men were lured by a covert network promising legitimate employment but were subsequently sent to the frontlines in Ukraine.

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that 44 Indian nationals were serving in the Russian military, and the matter was raised with Moscow, urging an end to recruitment of Indians. Official data cited nearly 170 Indians recruited, with 96 discharged, 16 missing, and at least 12 killed in combat.

Investigations revealed the circulating video was AI-generated. Reverse image searches traced keyframes to a Facebook page posting AI-created content, which included disclaimers stating the videos were for entertainment. Visual inconsistencies, such as unnatural hand movements and repeated facial expressions, further indicated AI generation. Voice analysis using the Hiya detection tool also flagged the audio as likely AI-created.

Similar AI-generated videos have appeared previously, with minor differences in the soldier's statements but consistent disclaimers confirming their artificial nature.

Author: Caleb Jennings