AI-Generated Images of Putin’s India Visit Flood Social Media, Misleading Public

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent two-day diplomatic visit to India has been marred by a flood of fabricated images circulating across social media platforms, falsely depicting him visiting various religious sites across the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The doctored images show Putin purportedly visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya with PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, paying respects at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, bathing in the Ganges in Varanasi, and reading the Bhagavad Gita on an airplane. These images have gained significant traction online, with numerous social media accounts sharing them as authentic documentation of Putin’s cultural engagements in India.

However, an investigation by fact-checking organization Vishvas News has conclusively determined that these images are entirely fabricated using artificial intelligence technology. In reality, the Russian President remained in New Delhi throughout his visit, which took place on December 4-5 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

According to official statements from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Putin’s itinerary was limited to diplomatic and business engagements in the capital. After landing at Palam Airport, where he was welcomed by PM Modi, the Russian leader participated in bilateral talks at Hyderabad House and addressed the India-Russia Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam.

Multiple AI detection tools confirmed the fabricated nature of these images. The viral photo supposedly showing Putin at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was analyzed using the University of Buffalo’s DeepFake-O-Meter, with several detectors confirming AI manipulation. The GLFF detector identified a 100% probability of AI generation, while the Effort detector indicated 60%, and the VeraAI detector showed 70% probability.

Similarly, the image depicting Putin and Modi at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain was flagged by VeraAI with an 80% probability of AI manipulation. The Hive Moderation Detection Tool assessed both images as nearly 100% likely to be AI-generated, attributing the Ram Temple image to Gemini 3 and the Ujjain Temple image to Veo3 technology.

The other circulating images—Putin bathing in the Ganges and reading the Bhagavad Gita on a plane—were also confirmed to be AI-generated through similar detection methods.

This incident highlights the growing challenge of deepfakes and AI-generated content in spreading misinformation, particularly around high-profile diplomatic visits. Such fabricated content can potentially mislead the public about international relations and diplomatic priorities, creating false narratives about cultural exchanges that never occurred.

Madhurendra Kumar, a senior television journalist covering foreign affairs, corroborated that Putin remained in New Delhi during his entire visit, without traveling to any other Indian city or religious site.

The India-Russia summit focused on strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors, with discussions centered on trade, defense cooperation, and geopolitical issues. This marked Putin’s first visit to India since his re-election as Russian President, emphasizing the continued importance of India-Russia ties in the changing global order.

As digital manipulation technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of critical media literacy and fact-checking in an age where seeing is no longer necessarily believing.