Russia Used Video Game Screenshots to "Prove" the U.S. Is Assisting ISIS

11/14/2017 02:58 pm EST

Russia recently cited stills from a video game as proof that the U.S. was working with ISIS before quickly receiving backlash and ridicule from those who recognized the images.

The evidence that Russia came forward with on Twitter was said to be "irrefutable proof" of collusion, but those who saw the tweets from the Russian Ministry of Defense Twitter account swiftly pointed out that the proof wasn't as irrefutable as it claimed. It turns out that the images that the account used actually came from a game called AC-130 Gunship Simulator: Special Ops Squadron, a connection that was made over and over as more people recognized the similarities with a YouTube clip showcasing the game.

The tweet above was one of many precautions that was taken by those who saw the tweet in case it would be removed from the Russian Twitter account. When Russian's Ministry of Defense first tweeted out the "evidence," they did so in multiple languages, but not all of those are available any longer. From watching the video at the top that shows a clip from AC-130 Gunship Simulator: Special Ops Squadron, a video that was uploaded back in 2015, not anywhere close to Nov. 9, 2017 as the images from the tweet would suggest.

If the video clip wasn't enough proof to connect the stills with the game and debunk the evidence, you'll also notice that some of the stills even have part of the developer's disclaimers left in the images. In the top-right corner, you can see the beginnings of the statement from the video that claims the footage shown was work-in-progress gameplay and that all of the content shown is subject to change. The statement wasn't even fully cropped out of the images that Russia tweeted.

After the account tweeted out the images, it was met with a wave of responses with mixed takes on the "proof." Some Russian citizens were frustrated with their MoD's tweet, but others simply ridiculed the account for utilizing the game's screenshots in their attempts to prove their case.

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