AI Image Mixup Forces Removal Of Russian Propaganda Mural

Russian authorities in the Moscow Oblast were compelled to take down a mural featuring a "Z-soldier" after angry residents discovered a link between the depicted soldier and a Ukrainian fighter.

The "Z" Symbol in Russian Propaganda

The letter "Z," written in Latin script rather than Cyrillic, has evolved into a significant emblem of pro-war propaganda in Russia. Initially, it served as a tactical marking on Russian military vehicles during the full-scale invasion, presumably to prevent friendly fire and differentiate task forces, as noted by sources like Wikipedia and NPR, with further context from Meduza. Today, this symbol is widely displayed across Russian cities on buildings, vehicles, public transportation, billboards, and apparel, and is a common feature in large public gatherings.

AI Image Sparks Outcry in Dzerzhinsky

This particular incident unfolded shortly before the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory Day on May 9th. Residents in the Russian city of Dzerzhinsky noticed a newly painted mural on a residential building depicting a soldier without any clear identifying insignia. According to the propaganda news outlet Regnum, the public reaction was swift and strong, with many locals lodging complaints with the city administration.

The contentious artwork was reportedly generated using artificial intelligence and had received approval from the city administration prior to the commencement of painting.

In an ironic twist, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) stated that the same stock image, apparently sourced from Depositphotos, has also been featured in their own recruitment campaigns.

Euromaidan Press highlighted the incident on X (formerly Twitter), explaining: "Russian authorities in Moscow Oblast had to remove a Z-soldier mural because outraged residents found its connection to a Ukrainian fighter. The confusion arose because the Russian artist used an AI-generated stock image for this government project, while a similar image was..." See the post.

Attempts to Salvage and Eventual Removal

Pavel Shcheklein, the artist whose company secured the contract for the mural, explained the situation: "Residents began writing that this was allegedly a Ukrainian soldier. We then painted a Russian flag on his uniform, but the outrage didn’t stop."

Despite these efforts to alter the mural by adding a Russian flag and the "Z" symbol, city officials ultimately made the decision to have the artwork entirely removed.

Financial and Contractual Aftermath

Notwithstanding the controversy, the artist's firm has reportedly retained its contract and is expected to proceed with other planned murals. However, Shcheklein informed Regnum that his company incurred a loss of approximately 600,000 rubles (around $7,000) as a result of this incident.