A recent viral video purportedly showing a young Ukrainian soldier crying as he prepares to head to the front lines has been identified as a product of artificial intelligence disinformation. In the clip, a man records himself, visibly emotional, stating that he has just turned 23 and expresses his fear of dying in combat. However, investigations, including reverse image searches, indicate that the video originated from a now-deleted TikTok account known for disseminating AI-generated videos depicting Ukrainian soldiers in distress.
The TikTok account, which has been removed, was found to include watermarks from Sora, a text-to-video AI model developed by OpenAI. While some videos featured this watermark, it is absent in the crying soldier video. The clip consists of two short segments—one lasting four seconds and the other ten seconds—edited together. This brief nature of the clips suggests AI generation, as most models are typically limited to producing continuous footage of around ten seconds.
Additionally, the supposed age of the soldier raises questions about the video's authenticity. In Ukraine, conscription laws apply to men aged 25 to 60 who are deemed fit for military service, making the depiction of a 23-year-old soldier implausible. The video has been widely circulated by anti-Ukraine social media accounts, with one particular post amassing nearly two million views on X, formerly Twitter. Some captions accompanying the post aim to sway Ukraine’s allies, urging them to withdraw their support.
In the early hours of this morning, Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious in the New York City mayoral race, an event that garnered attention from tech billionaire Elon Musk. In a post on his platform X, Musk criticized the election process, labeling it a “scam” due to some candidates appearing multiple times on the ballot. However, this practice is a standard aspect of fusion voting in New York, where various parties can endorse the same candidate and list them accordingly on the ballot.
This system was also evident during the previous year’s presidential election, where frontrunners Donald Trump and Kamala Harris appeared under multiple party affiliations on ballots from various New York counties. For instance, Trump was listed under both the Republican and Conservative parties, while Harris received endorsements from the Democratic and Working Families parties. Notably, Andrew Cuomo, who lost to Mamdani, appeared on four different ballot lines in his successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Musk further pointed out that Cuomo’s name was listed last on the ballot as a sign of the alleged "scam." However, this was due to his candidacy as an independent following his defeat in the Democratic primary. Understanding the nuances of fusion voting is essential to grasp the dynamics of New York elections and the implications for candidates.
The recent crash of a UPS cargo plane shortly after takeoff has sparked significant interest, leading BBC Verify to consult with aviation experts regarding the potential causes. Verified footage shows the aircraft crashing and producing a massive fireball. Retired airline pilot Terry Tozer analyzed the footage and suggested that it appeared as though “the left engine fell off during take-off.” He noted that while planes can typically fly on two engines, the damage may have been severe enough to compromise thrust from the third engine as well.
Another aviation expert, Marco Chan, observed that the footage indicated “the left engine catching fire during take-off,” which was followed by a burst of smoke from the center engine. Chan explained that while a single engine fire can often be managed effectively, losing two engines in quick succession would render the aircraft nearly impossible to control during ascent.
As the situation develops, BBC Verify will continue to share the crash footage with experts to gather further insights and analysis regarding this tragic incident.
Our investigative team has been diligently analyzing numerous clips circulating online related to the recent cargo plane crash in Kentucky. The devastating incident resulted in the tragic loss of at least seven lives shortly after the aircraft departed from Louisville International Airport. Among the verified materials is a piece of CCTV footage captured from a truck parts shop situated south of the runway. This video reveals the plane tilting heavily, with its left wing dragging along the ground, creating a significant fireball.
Additionally, our team has verified another video that captures the failed take-off and subsequent crash, filmed near ramp nine at the airport. A third clip, taken from a moving vehicle, shows individuals gasping and screaming as the plane crashes directly in front of them, engulfing the area in a wall of fire and smoke. A fourth set of aerial footage reveals the devastating aftermath of the crash, with flames raging in an industrial area south of the runway.
As we continue to gather and analyze these videos, we will consult with aviation experts to piece together a clearer understanding of the factors leading to this tragic incident. More updates and expert insights will be shared as they become available.
