Zelenskyy's Grandfather's Memory Exploited to Spread Disinformation

Images circulating on social media depicting wreaths criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the grave of his grandfather, Semen Ivanovich Zelenskyy, in Kryvyi Rih have been identified as fabrications created using artificial intelligence. These deceptive posts emerged shortly after Victory Day on May 9.

The manipulated images show wreaths placed near the headstone with inscriptions such as "Forgive us for him," "From your true sons and grandsons," and "A poor descendant of a worthy ancestor." These messages were intended to disparage the Ukrainian president. The accompanying narrative falsely claimed that locals in Kryvyi Rih placed these wreaths to mark Victory Day and express shame over Zelenskyy's alleged failure to visit his grandfather's grave.

However, visual evidence from authentic photographs, including those taken during Zelenskyy's visit in 2019, contradicts the fabricated narrative. The real headstone features two carnation flowers carved at the bottom, details absent in the AI-generated images. Furthermore, AI detection tools like "Image Whisperer" have confirmed the images as artificial creations.

Analysis of the AI-generated images reveals inconsistencies such as oddly attached inscriptions on the wreaths and poorly rendered background details on the headstone, further exposing their fraudulent nature. The disinformation campaign aimed to exploit the memory of Zelenskyy's grandfather, a Soviet Army veteran who fought in World War II, to undermine the Ukrainian president's image, particularly around a significant historical commemoration.