Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - Old fighter-jet videos are being falsely circulated online as footage of a deadly Myanmar military airstrike in Rakhine State.
The September 28 attack on a busy market in Kyauktaw reportedly killed at least 50 people and injured dozens more, according to aid workers and the Arakan Army. However, AFP's verification found that the viral videos were recorded well before the attack.
One clip shows a Russian Su-35 fighter jet and was posted online more than a month before the Myanmar strike.
A second video, showing a Ukrainian MiG-29, was published in November 2025 and later shared by a Ukrainian government-linked initiative as footage of a Ukrainian pilot heading on a mission. Neither video provides evidence of the aircraft involved in the Kyauktaw attack.
The misinformation comes as Myanmar's conflict continues to generate highly sensitive images and claims across social media. The Kyauktaw attack has drawn international concern, with the United Nations calling for civilian protection and warning that continued violence is preventing safe returns of displaced people.
As more footage emerges, verification is becoming critical to distinguish genuine evidence from recycled material that can distort understanding of deadly events.
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