The Kremlin press service is removing metadata from videos and photos published on the official website, on the basis of which it was possible to determine the date and exact time of their taking, the Moscow Times website reported on Friday. Now analysts will not be able to determine whether the materials presented by the Kremlin actually constitute a record of current events.
In all files published on the Kremlin's website, information about the recording time is replaced with zeros. This means that the actual properties have been corrected. Metadata was even changed in a file containing a recording of Putin's speech in which he talked about using an Oreshnik missile in an attack on Ukraineas well as in a video recording of his press speech at the summit Kazakhstan – both events were covered in detail by international media.
Previously, file records made it possible to verify whether the photos and recordings presented by Putin as a record of current events had not been taken earlier. The Kremlin often uses the so-called “canned goods”, i.e. materials intended to prove that the Russian leader lives and works. They were used when Putin did not appear in public for a long time.
The Moscow Times recalled that the last time such a situation occurred was in November. Due to the escalation of relations with the West, Putin did not appear in public for two weeks. At that time, the Kremlin used previously prepared materials that were shown as its current meetings with parliamentarians. In fact, the Russian leader was absent from November 7 until November 21, when he appeared with a special speech regarding the shelling of Ukraine with the new Oreshnik missile.
Putin said that the firing of the Oreshnik missile at the Ukrainian arms plant in Dnieper was a response to Ukraine's use of American ATACMS missiles against targets in Russia.
Test of the Russian RS-24 Jars ICBM class missile (illustrative photo) mil.ru
Russia's sabotage campaign in Europe
According to Reuters, the intelligence services of NATO and other European countries have determined that Moscow is behind the growing number of sabotage actions taking various forms – from cyberattacks to arson. Last week, sources familiar with US intelligence told the agency that Russia was likely to step up its sabotage campaign in Europe to put more pressure on the West and discourage it from supporting Ukraine.
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