Russian intelligence agencies responsible for influence operations have begun to employ artificial intelligence, particularly deepfake technology, to fabricate “evidence” aimed at discrediting foreign politicians. One recent example appeared in the Turkish newspaper Aydınlık, known for its sensationalist leanings. The outlet published a video purporting to show Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Even Aydınlık acknowledged that the authenticity of the footage could not be confirmed.
On closer analysis, the so-called “negotiation video” between Yermak and Syrsky bears all the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation operation, most likely produced by a military intelligence unit. Key indicators include the absence of transparent metadata, a lack of references to original platform logs or time stamps, and the odd use of the Russian language in the video interface — atypical for official communications between Ukrainian, American, and Turkish officials. Other markers of synthetic content are also present: unnatural facial movements, delayed eye and mouth synchronization, and deliberate degradation of video quality to mask AI manipulation.
This is part of a sequence of information operations run through Aydınlık. On August 11, the paper had already published an article alleging “secret accounts” belonging to President Volodymyr Zelensky in the United Arab Emirates, naming specific companies and citing a monthly figure of around $50 million — but without providing independent verification. Aydınlık, published by the Ulusal Medya group, is closely linked to the Vatan Party of Doğu Perinçek, a long-time advocate of “Eurasianism,” which calls for strategic alignment with Russia and China against the West. Perinçek has repeatedly appeared on Russian media platforms and participated in nationalist forums in Moscow, where he was almost certainly recruited into Moscow’s orbit.
We assess that the primary target of this latest disinformation operation was U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a persistent critic of the Kremlin. Moscow likely intends to further tarnish his reputation ahead of the Senate elections, while simultaneously undermining American support for Ukraine in Congress and the White House. The attack also fits a broader pattern: in 2023, Russian state media circulated a manipulated video of Graham’s meeting with Zelensky, splicing his words to suggest that he had said, “the Russians are dying — the best money we’ve ever spent.” The fabrication was later debunked by Reuters and AFP fact-checkers. Russian intelligence appears to believe that allegations of corruption will resonate in the United States — a miscalculation that underscores both the limited skill of its operatives and the extent to which they remain trapped in a post-Soviet frame of reference.
The use of Aydınlık as an “external retransmission platform” allows Moscow to inject its narratives into foreign media ecosystems with a veneer of legitimacy. The journalist behind the latest piece, Yiğit Saner, serves as foreign news editor and is one of the outlet’s most active authors on international affairs. His reporting has frequently been amplified by Russian state media such as RIA Novosti and TASS, and in 2024 he attended the International Russophile Movement Congress in Moscow and later visited occupied Mariupol. His work situates Aydınlık firmly within the Kremlin’s broader information ecosystem, alongside regular contributions from figures like Alexander Dugin. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Aydınlık has repeatedly disseminated fabricated or misleading narratives about Ukraine. Many of these stories rely on unverified “investigations,” alleged leaks, or outright manipulation. The aim has been consistent: to amplify an anti-Western stance — hostile to NATO and the United States — while promoting a pro-Russian line. Particular emphasis has been placed on portraying Ukraine as steeped in “Nazism” and on allegations of corruption within President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government. Growing concern surrounds the increasing frequency of disinformation campaigns targeting American politicians in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Moscow likely intends to further tarnish his reputation ahead of the Senate elections, while simultaneously undermining American support for Ukraine in Congress and the White HouseThe Kremlin’s strategy is clear: to use deepfakes and fabricated “corruption scandals” as weapons against American and European politicians, sowing doubt about their integrity while sustaining Moscow’s narratives of Western hypocrisy. These tactics underscore Russia’s unwillingness to alter its war aims — instead, it is merely escalating its disinformation campaigns.
