Russia Circulated AI Disinformation About Uman Pilgrimage
Russian-linked accounts used deepfake videos to spread false claims regarding Jewish pilgrims visiting Ukraine.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Russia-linked networks have utilized AI-generated videos on TikTok to circulate fabricated claims that Jewish pilgrims in Uman were relocating to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities identified this campaign as a calculated disinformation effort designed to incite antisemitic sentiment.
Why it matters
The campaign exploits sensitive cultural events to destabilize Ukrainian society and provoke hatred by blending real administrative data with malicious falsehoods. By weaponizing AI, these operations aim to sow discord during the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage.
Russian-controlled TikTok account networks employed AI-generated video interviews to disseminate claims of a 200,000 hryvnia government payment for pilgrims. This figure mimics a real, unrelated Ukrainian state program to increase the perceived credibility of the fabricated narratives.
The players
TikTok
This social media platform was used as the primary delivery system for the Russian-linked network's AI-generated disinformation videos.
Uman
This Ukrainian city serves as the annual site for the Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage of thousands of Jewish visitors.
Sergey Glazyev
He is a public figure who previously suggested the concept of mass resettlement in Ukraine in 2019.
The details
The disinformation campaign relies on manipulated videos that depict fake pilgrims claiming they are moving to Ukraine. These videos falsely repurpose real events, such as the coordination between Israeli police and Ukrainian forces, to fit a narrative of clandestine resettlement.
Timeline
May 2019: Sergey Glazyev suggested mass resettlement in Ukraine.
April 2026: Fake videos falsely claimed Ukraine planned to ban Israeli pilgrims.
August 17, 2026: A Telegram channel described the pilgrimage as a resettlement rehearsal.
September 11, 2026: Jewish pilgrims arrived in Uman for Rosh Hashanah.
September 14, 2026: An AI-generated video featured a fake confession regarding resettlement.
The Tech Race
This campaign follows a pattern of using sophisticated digital tools to leverage existing cultural tensions. It represents a shift from traditional propaganda toward AI-driven narrative fabrication intended to bypass standard fact-checking processes.
Users on social media platforms should verify the origin of content that makes claims about sensitive geopolitical or religious issues. The prevalence of AI-generated content can make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic reporting and coordinated disinformation efforts.
The takeaway
The use of deepfake technology to manufacture religious and political conflict highlights the growing danger of algorithmic misinformation. Readers should remain skeptical of viral claims that misrepresent state programs or the intentions of minority groups during major public events.
Further reading
For more information, see the latest updates in our Artificial Intelligence section.
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