An apparent AI-generated blunder marred Russia's annual Victory Day military parade on Saturday, as televised footage showed fighter jets displaying the flags of European NATO member states. The error occurred during a flypast by elite Russian Air Force pilots over Moscow's Red Square.
The jets, including MiG-29s, Su-30SMs and Su-25s, were seen with flags of the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Norway. The broadcast appeared to alternate between live and AI-generated shots, giving viewers a close-up view of the aircraft in their signature Cuban Diamond formation, releasing smoke in Russian flag colours.
The blunder came shortly after President Vladimir Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, stating they face an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. 'Victory has always been and will be ours,' he said, referring to the war now in its fifth year.
This year's parade was drastically scaled back, featuring no tanks, missiles or heavy weapons for the first time in nearly two decades. The Russian Defence Ministry cited the 'current operational situation' and officials pointed to the threat of Ukrainian attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier suggested Russian authorities feared drones might buzz over Red Square.
In response to US President Donald Trump's announcement of a three-day ceasefire, Zelensky issued a decree mockingly permitting Russia to hold its celebrations and declaring Red Square temporarily off-limits for Ukrainian strikes. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the decree as a 'silly joke', adding no threats were detected during the parade.
