Russian propaganda spreads fake video about Lavrov’s speech being shown on Times Square screens

Russian Telegram channels and bots on the social media platform X are sharing a video being shown on Times Square screens. The short clip shows one of the advertising screens supposedly displaying footage of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s speech at a press conference summarizing the Russian Foreign Ministry’s annual work, held on January 14, 2025. A voice-over in Russian claims the video was recorded at 4 a.m. local time.

However, the video is fabricated and was not broadcast on Times Square screens. Russian propagandists used graphic editing tools to doctor a YouTube video uploaded on January 11, 2025 — three days before Lavrov’s speech.

Every evening, from 11:57 p.m. to midnight, dozens of LED screens at Times Square present a show called “Midnight Moments,” where contemporary artworks are featured. This January, the screens are showcasing “Infinite Ascent,” a video collage of birds by Japanese artist Yoshi Sodeoka.

Russian propagandists have previously created fake videos featuring world-famous locations to push their narratives. Earlier, Ukrinform debunked false claims about social advertising in Berlin and Tokyo.

Such fabrications aim to “elevate” the image of Russian government officials globally, creating a false impression that Western societies and governments support Russia. This narrative, however, is untrue.

In 2024, Russian propaganda similarly doctored a video depicting a walk through the streets of New York in an attempt to discredit Ukraine.

Andriy Olenin