A fake video (Deepfake), which was shared within 24 hours on social media, claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had accepted surrender (capitulation), has been deleted from social media.
After Facebook and YouTube (here), hibrid.info has confirmed that this video has also been removed from Twitter (here), being considered false content.
This Deepfake video was widely circulated online on Wednesday, as spotted by Canadian outlet Vice (here). In the video, which has been reviewed by multiple fact-checkers, including hibrid.info, Zelensky appears to be standing behind a presidential podium and in front of a backdrop, both of which display the Ukrainian coat of arms. Wearing a green shirt, Zelensky speaks in Ukrainian, saying he is telling Ukrainians to lay down their weapons in the week-long war against Russia.
According to Vice.com, the Ukrainian media outlet “Ukraine 24” announced that their website was hacked on Wednesday (March 16) and this fake, technologically manipulated video, which in fact-checking terminology is called “Deepfake,” was posted. So, this video has been technologically manipulated, claiming to present a statement by the Ukrainian president in a falsified manner.
"The line of the TV channel "Ukraine 24" and the website "Today" were hacked by enemy hackers and broadcast Zelenskyy's message about alleged 'capitulation'❗️❗️❗️ THIS IS FAKE! FAKE!" reads the post of Ukraine 24.
Zelensky's falsified statement:
Dear Ukrainians! Dear defenders! Being president was not so easy. I have to make difficult decisions. At first I decided to return Donbass. It's time to look into the eyes. It didn't work. It only got worse. Much worse. There is no tomorrow. At least for me. And now I decide to say goodbye to you. I advise you to lay down your arms and return to your families. You should not die in this war. I advise you to live, and I will do the same.
Link to the fake "Deepfake" video posted on the Ukraine 24 media website:
https://www.facebook.com/www.ukraine24.ua/photos/a.702717339921673/1847515118775217/?type=3
So the reaction of this medium and the subtleties in the deformation of the image show that this is a video that does not represent reality, that is, it is fake or Deepfake.
Deepfakes – which combine the terms “deep learning” and “fake” – are convincing-looking but fake videos and audio. Created using the latest and relatively accessible technology of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning (AI), they aim to fake a real person saying or doing something that, in fact, did not happen (here).