Russians in Crimea were left stunned when a TV broadcast appearing to show Vladimir Putin announcing his resignation as their President was aired on his birthday.
The Kremlin tyrant celebrated his 72nd birthday on Monday, as his country finds itself mired in a brutal war that has claimed tens of thousands of Russian soldiers’ lives.
The Russian President received warm congratulations from one of his most ardent supporters.
Ultra-nationalist Aleksander Dugin, whose daughter was killed in a car bomb in August 2022, wrote “God save the Tsar!” on his Telegram Channel.
However, a group of hackers broke into state TV in Crimea, which has been occupied and illegally annexed by Russia since 2014, and broadcast a fake speech by the Russian President.
In the short, AI-generated broadcast, the fake Putin announces his resignation and urges people to help Ukraine’s army liberate the peninsula and other occupied territories.
“Dear inhabitants of Crimea and the New Territories,” he said. “Today I am celebrating my last birthday as your leader.
“I know you understand how the situation is changing. Ukraine’s army continues to make devastating strikes and destroy Russian forces – a process that is just getting stronger.
“I am no longer able to guarantee you safety and stability. Therefore I urge you not to resist change.
“Ukraine’s army will regain its territory and you should help them do so.
“You should give any information to Ukraine that will help it achieve its military goals as quickly as possible and liberate your territory from occupation.
“Together we can see the dawn of a new future where justice is achieved.”
It comes as the holding company of Russia’s main national TV stations said it was targeted in a massive cyberattack on Monday.
The website of VGTRK (the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company) was not loading early on Monday and its Rossiya-24 rolling 24-hour news channel was not available online.
“Our state media holding, one of the largest, has faced an unprecedented hacker attack on its digital infrastructure,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
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