Fact Check: Video of bombing in Paris is generated using CGI

Hyderabad: A video showing a woman posing near Effiel Tower followed by flying jets bombing the area has gone viral on social media.

Those sharing the video claim that the video shows a real bombing in France.

Click here, here, here and here to see the posts.

NewsMeter found that the video was from 2022, and was generated using computer-generated imagery (CGI) tools.

On performing a reverse image search of the video’s keyframe, we found that it was tweeted by the official handle of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on March 12, 2022.

We also found the same tweet in a report by Newsweek from March 12, 2023, titled “Ukraine Releases Edited Video of Mock Attack on Paris, in Message to NATO.”

It said the video was generated using CGI depicting an air attack on Paris near Effiel tower. It also mentioned that the video was released by the defence ministry of Ukraine, mocking up a military attack on Paris and urging Western powers to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine to prevent a Russian attack.

Forbes also reported the video on March 17, 2022, in a report titled, “Ukraine’s Promotion of Fake Paris Bombing Video Highlights Risks of Misinformation.”

As per the report, the fake graphic footage, which looks real was deliberately shared on social media by the Ukrainian government to send a message that other democracies could also face the same fate of a Russian attack similar to the one on Ukraine, urging them to close airspace over Ukraine.

Daily Mail also reported the video with the same details.

Hence, we conclude that the viral video was computer generated and does not show an actual bombing in Paris.