Russia’s Victory Day Parade, held last Friday (9) in Moscow, gained attention on social media after users suggested that part of the aerial display shown by state media had been produced with computer-generated imagery.
During the ceremony marking 81 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, the broadcast showed a formation of the Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatic teams flying over Red Square.
Shortly afterward, however, the footage began showing angles considered “impossible” by internet users, with cameras apparently passing through the formation of Su-30 and MiG-29 fighter jets.
Users quickly pointed out signs of CGI, citing unnatural aircraft movements and graphic inconsistencies in the sequence shown by Russian television. The case gained traction after posts mistakenly claimed that the scene had been created by artificial intelligence.
Despite the backlash, the aircraft used in the display did actually take part in the parade. Photos from the Reuters agency captured the MiG-29 jets from the Swifts team and the Su-30SM aircraft from the Russian Knights flying over Moscow during the event.
The final part of the aerial display, with Su-25 fighter jets releasing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag, appeared to consist of real footage captured directly from the aircraft, following the pattern of previous broadcasts.
This is not the first time the parade broadcast has used digital effects. According to the website The Aviationist, a similar situation occurred in 2021, when computer-generated images of Su-57 fighter jets were shown during coverage of the parade.
The 2026 edition of Victory Day took place amid strict security measures and a reduced version of the military parade. For the first time in nearly two decades, the parade did not feature columns of tanks and other heavy equipment in Red Square, amid concerns related to the war in Ukraine and the risk of drone attacks.
🤖 What an embarrassment! The aerial part of the parade appears to have been generated by AI
Russian state media showed “footage of the aviation flyover” during the parade, but users quickly noticed something odd: the camera seems to fly right between the jets, while the… pic.twitter.com/bWcJuqgfv8
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 9, 2026
Photo and video: Russian TV / X @nexta_tv. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
