Pro-Russian accounts share fake AI-generated images to blame Ukraine for Kyiv cathedral fire
Two AI-generated images circulated online falsely showing photographers on a rooftop before the strike on Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The attack was actually carried out by a Russian drone, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Following the strike on the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on the night of June 14–15, pro-Russian social media users claimed that Ukraine staged the bombing. They shared two images allegedly showing photographers with professional equipment on a rooftop facing the cathedral — one in daylight, the other at night with the cathedral in flames — suggesting that the media knew the attack was coming.
However, these images were generated by artificial intelligence. Using SynthID, a tool by OpenAI, the images were found to contain a watermark indicating AI generation. Additionally, the AI-generated cathedral has a green roof, while the real Dormition Cathedral has a brown roof. The fake image actually resembles the Saint Sophia Cathedral, another Kyiv landmark with a green roof.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement blaming Ukraine, claiming the strike was caused by a malfunctioning US-made Patriot missile. No evidence was provided to support this claim.
In contrast, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that a Russian Geran-2 kamikaze drone struck the cathedral. The SBU released photos of an MD-550 engine, typical for such drones, and debris with a serial number starting with "ALB". The independent Russian outlet The Insider reported that drones with these markings are produced at the Alabuga factory in Tatarstan for the Russian military.
While Ukrainian evidence points to Russian responsibility, independent verification remains impossible. The international community, including French President Emmanuel Macron, condemned the attack on the UNESCO World Heritage site.
