Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets Prince Harry’s Ukraine Visit with Fabricated BBC Video
A sophisticated Russian disinformation campaign, dubbed "Operation Overload," has targeted Australian newsrooms and social media users with a fabricated BBC video report falsely claiming that a young boy, Roman, whom Prince Harry met during his recent visit to Ukraine, was injured in a domestic fire rather than a Russian missile strike. This disinformation operation aims to discredit Ukraine’s narrative of the war and undermine Prince Harry’s support for the country.
The fake video, circulated on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) since April 14, 2025, depicts Prince Harry’s visit to the Superhumans Center in Lviv, a rehabilitation facility for victims of the war. It uses BBC-style overlays to falsely claim that Roman’s injuries, which are clearly visible, resulted from a house fire caused by his drunken mother in 2024. This fabricated narrative contrasts sharply with well-documented evidence that Roman was severely injured in a Russian missile attack in Vinnytsia in 2022, which tragically killed his mother.
The campaign extended beyond social media, with emails sent directly to newsrooms containing a link to the fabricated video and reiterating the false narrative. The email, emanating from an unknown source, describes Roman as "the charred baby" and falsely attributes his injuries to a house fire started by his mother. This targeted approach towards journalists indicates a deliberate attempt to infiltrate legitimate news channels and amplify the fabricated story. The timing of the email campaign coincides with headlines circulating on various Telegram channels, suggesting manufactured outrage within the British Royal Family regarding Prince Harry’s Ukraine visit, further demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of the disinformation operation.
Amaury Lesplingart, an expert in Russian disinformation at Finnish analytics firm Check First, identified the email as part of Operation Overload, a known Russian strategy to inundate Western media with fabricated content, overwhelming fact-checking resources and fostering an atmosphere of distrust. This tactic seeks to create information chaos and sow confusion about the realities of the ongoing conflict. The focus on Prince Harry’s visit is likely intended to exploit his high profile and generate greater reach for the disinformation.
The truth about Roman’s injuries is well-documented and heart-wrenching. He suffered life-threatening burns and shrapnel injuries while waiting for a doctor with his mother when a Russian cruise missile struck Vinnytsia in 2022. His mother was among the 28 people killed in the attack. Numerous images and reports predating 2024 clearly show Roman’s injuries from the missile strike. His story, marked by resilience and recovery against the odds, has been covered extensively, including his meetings with Pope Francis, his participation in ballroom dancing competitions, and his enduring multiple surgeries.
The BBC, the purported source of the fabricated video, has confirmed that the report is fake, and independent fact-checkers have corroborated the true nature of Roman’s injuries. Roman’s father, Yaroslav, has also documented his son’s arduous recovery journey on Instagram, providing further irrefutable evidence against the fabricated narrative. This coordinated campaign underscores the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by Russian disinformation operatives to manipulate public opinion and undermine trust in credible sources of information. The targeting of Prince Harry’s visit highlights the opportunistic exploitation of high-profile events to spread disinformation and sow discord.