Artificial Video of U.S. Official Emerges After Ukraine Policy Shift
A day after U.S. officials indicated that Ukraine could utilize American weapons for limited strikes within Russia, a deepfake video featuring State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emerged online. The manipulated footage purportedly shows Miller suggesting that Belgorod, a Russian city near the Ukraine border, is a legitimate target for attacks.
The 49-second clip displays signs of manipulation, such as inconsistent lip sync and changes in Miller’s attire. U.S. officials, who have not identified the video's origins, worry about its potential to mislead opinions regarding the Ukraine conflict and American politics.
In the fabricated video, Miller is falsely seen stating that Belgorod has been largely evacuated and is now predominantly a military zone. However, the city’s 340,000 residents have not been evacuated despite ongoing Ukrainian attacks. President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use American weapons defensively against Russian positions near the border, not for further-reaching strikes.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other officials, including Miller, stress that the Kremlin has made disinformation a central strategy. Blinken discussed combating such disinformation during recent meetings with NATO allies.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the northeastern town of Vovchansk faces severe destruction from ongoing battles. A recent Russian offensive has left the town in ruins, with Ukraine controlling 70% of it and engaging in continuous combat to reclaim the area from Russian forces.
Amidst the conflict, Russia issued new nuclear threats following reports that NATO has permitted Ukraine to use Western weapons for limited strikes inside Russia. Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of President Putin, warned that such actions could provoke a full-scale conflict with NATO.
U.S. officials, while reiterating the limited scope of the permission given to Ukraine for preemptive attacks in specific regions near Kharkiv, emphasize that adjustments to their strategy may be necessary based on the war’s developments.