AI-Generated Fake Videos of Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web Go Viral on Social Media

Hayk Hovhannisyan, #CivilNetCheck

Social media platforms have been flooded with videos purporting to show the aftermath of strikes on Russian military airfields from Ukraine's "Operation Spider's Web." These videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views and shares across multiple platforms.

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine's Security Service conducted "Operation Spider's Web", launching simultaneous drone strikes on five military airfields deep inside Russian territory using over 100 drones concealed in wooden structures on trucks, targeting strategic aviation aircraft.

#CivilNetCheck has analyzed the circulating videos and determined that many are fabricated.

AI-Generated Strike Footage

One widely-shared video claiming to show the aftermath of strikes on a Russian airfield shows numerous destroyed aircraft resembling Soviet-era MiG-31 and MiG-29 fighters.

This video was posted on Facebook on June 2 with the headline "This is what Russian strategic aviation has become after the Ukrainian 'Spider's Web' operation" and gathered around 400,000 views and more than 5,000 likes.

Reverse searching of the footage showed that this video also gained wide distribution in Ukraine and Western countries. One of the earliest publications was on June 2 on the X social network by user @BerberDoris.

Detailed analysis reveals clear signs of artificial intelligence generation: non-existent three-engine and four-engine fighters, "bilateral" aircraft with two cockpits, and people suddenly disappearing from frames. These artifacts clearly indicate fabrication.

Notably, Operation Spider's Web actually targeted much larger strategic bombers- Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 aircraft, as well as A-50 radar planes- not the fighters shown in the fake video.

Video Game Footage Passed Off as Real Combat

Another fake video widely circulated on news websites and social media purports to show Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian bombers. Investigation revealed this footage actually comes from the "Arma 3" computer game.

The original video was published on YouTube on June 2, 2025 by the UWC gaming channel. The video description clearly states the footage is from the "Arma 3" simulation game.

Clips from this video were subsequently uploaded to TikTok and rapidly spread across platforms. Multiple outlets presented this content as genuine footage of "mass destruction of Russian Tu-95s."

Similar fake videos have previously circulated during conflicts between Israel and Hamas, as well as tensions between India and Pakistan. 

2024 Footage Presented as 2025 Events

Some social media posts have circulated images claiming to show Ukrainian missile strikes destroying two Russian naval vessels at the Vladivostok port on May 31.

Investigation shows these images have no connection to either Vladivostok or the most recent Ukrainian operations against Russia. They are actually from November 2024, when Ukrainian drones struck the "Tatarstan" and "Dagestan" vessels at a Russian naval base on the Caspian Sea. 

Actual Results of Operation Spider's Web According to Satellite Imagery

Despite the massive volume of misinformation circulating on social media, satellite imagery and independent researchers make it possible to determine the actual extent of losses to Russian strategic aviation.

High-resolution satellite images from Planet Labs, Maxar, and Capella SAR confirm that Russian strategic aviation suffered significant losses on June 1, 2025.

At the "Belaya" airfield in Russia's Irkutsk region, satellite imagery revealed at least three destroyed Tu-95MS and four Tu-22M3 bombers. Another bomber likely sustained partial damage.

According to Capella SAR data, at the "Olenya" military base in Murmansk region, two Tu-95MS were likely destroyed, with two others showing signs of serious damage. A burned transport aircraft, presumably an An-12, was also observed.

At "Ivanovo-Severny" airfield in the Ivanovo region, Mizar satellite images revealed burned aircraft remains, likely belonging to an A-50 radar aircraft, as well as a damaged Il-76 parked nearby.

Contrary to Ukrainian claims of destroying more than 40 Russian strategic aircraft, U.S. officials estimate approximately 10-20 warplanes were actually destroyed or damaged. Nevertheless, Operation Spider's Web represents the largest strike against Russian strategic aviation since 2022, with many affected aircraft types like the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 impossible to replace as they haven't been produced since 1991.