The man with the dog "is unlucky that bombs fall only where he is." This is how Russian disinformation works

A social media post featuring a man with a dog has sparked controversy, with claims of it being manipulated by Russian propaganda. The images, purportedly taken in different Ukrainian cities, depict the same man rescuing his dog amidst bombings. However, fact-checking revealed that two of the images were generated by AI, raising doubts about their authenticity. The post has been shared widely, including by the Russian embassy in Kenya, which criticized Ukrainian propaganda. The Ukrainian Center for Counteracting Disinformation pointed out that the images were likely fabricated to discredit Ukraine amid ongoing Russian attacks. Similar deceptive narratives have emerged in the past, highlighting the ongoing information warfare.