Russian propagandists have been caught spreading a fake video that claims to show Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s speech being broadcast on the iconic screens of Times Square in New York. The video, which is circulating widely on Russian Telegram channels and the social media platform X, shows one of the giant advertising screens supposedly displaying Lavrov’s speech, which was given during a press conference summarising the work of the Russian Foreign Ministry on January 14, 2025.
The video includes a voice-over in Russian, which falsely claims the footage was recorded at 4 a.m. local time. However, after closer inspection, it was revealed that the video is fabricated. Russian propagandists used graphic editing tools to manipulate a YouTube video that had been uploaded three days earlier, on January 11, 2025, long before Lavrov’s actual speech took place.
The doctored footage is part of a wider pattern of misleading videos created by Russian propagandists in an effort to manipulate public perception and elevate the image of Russian government officials. By presenting the false narrative that Lavrov’s speech was aired in such a prominent, global location as Times Square, the aim is to create a misleading impression that Western societies and governments support Russia’s actions and stance on global issues. This fabricated portrayal of Western approval, however, has no basis in reality.
Interestingly, Times Square screens are typically used for a daily programme called “Midnight Moments,” which runs from 11:57 p.m. to midnight. During this time, the screens showcase contemporary art, and for this month, the screens are displaying “Infinite Ascent,” a video collage of birds by Japanese artist Yoshi Sodeoka. The screens have not featured Lavrov’s speech, and the footage shown in the fake video is purely the result of digital manipulation.
This is not the first time Russian propagandists have used iconic global locations to create false impressions. Similar fabrications have been created in the past, such as fake videos claiming to show social advertising in cities like Berlin and Tokyo. In 2024, Russian propaganda even doctored a video showing a walk through the streets of New York, intended to discredit Ukraine.
