The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War has already claimed thousands of lives as of late-April 2022. There is, however, a new and intangible casualty: people’s opinion. In addition to physical military efforts, Russia is engaging in a large-scale disinformation campaign fought in news outlets. Utilizing AI capabilities to craft social media accounts, develop deep fakes, and manipulate users’ web experiences, Russia seeks to convert online consumers to a narrative advantageous to them.
This includes claims of historic Russian territory as well as Nazism rife in the Ukrainian government. Two Kremlin-tied sources, NewsFront and SouthFront, have been identified as purveyors of such propaganda by various means. This research case study attempts to explore the nature and implications of such AI-assisted propaganda efforts. Questions are raised regarding the objective truth and its availability, including the future of information and communication with such AI tools at one’s disposal.