Kazakhstan denounces fake videos linking it to drone attack on Russia's Orsk

Kazakhstan has rejected fabricated videos circulating online that falsely depict the country’s officials admitting involvement in a drone attack on the Russian city of Orsk.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Kazakh media, the Centre for Combating Disinformation of Kazakhstan announced that the clips, featuring the likenesses of the Kazakh foreign minister and Defence Ministry representatives, were produced using deepfake technology.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan have nothing to do with these videos. All official statements are published only on verified sources — the official websites of the ministries and their verified accounts. The videos in circulation are an information provocation and an example of the use of deepfake technology to spread false narratives,” the centre said in its statement.

Following an analysis, experts confirmed that the videos were generated with the help of artificial intelligence. The fabricated clips appeared on the internet on October 3.

The videos falsely claim to show the Kazakh foreign minister and defence officials acknowledging responsibility for a Kazakh-made drone attack on an oil refinery in Orsk, Russia.

Meanwhile, Orenburg Region Governor Yevgeny Solntsev reported that drones attempted to strike an industrial facility in the region on October 3. He said the site sustained minor damage, but production processes were not disrupted and there were no casualties. According to Solntsev, four drones were destroyed by air defence forces on duty over Orsk during the day.

By Tamilla Hasanova