The “Tranquilizer Gun Police” in Ukraine: Is This Image Real?
Updated November 5, 2026 · Based on a fact check by AFP Slovakia
Is this image AI? Yes. AFP Fact Check concluded the viral image of Ukrainian “police” with a tranquilizer gun was created with AI, so it is not real. The maker of the real gun shown in an inset said the object in the scene is not a tranquilizer gun. UncovAI rated the image 98% likely to be AI-generated.
Is This Image AI? The Clues That Exposed the “Tranquilizer Gun” Photo
Posts in late October claimed the picture showed police in Kharkiv hunting men with animal tranquilizer guns. The image combined a street scene with a small red-framed inset of a real veterinary tranquilizer rifle. AFP found several problems:
- The scene had no independent source. A reverse image search found it only together with the added inset and red graphics, never on its own.
- The details don’t make sense. The bus stop bench sits so low that nobody could sit on it, and the object on the man’s back has one unusual handle while the other is missing entirely.
- The inset was a real photo used out of context. It matched a promotional picture from DANiNJECT, a Danish maker of tranquilizer guns, showing a raccoon hit by a dart.
- The manufacturer denied it. DANiNJECT’s CEO told AFP the object in the street scene is not one of their tranquilizer guns or any other.
- AI tools agreed. OpenAI’s synthetic content tool judged the image likely made with OpenAI tools, and UncovAI gave a 98% probability of AI generation.
AFP also found no credible reports that police or military recruitment staff in Ukraine used tranquilizer guns during mobilization.
How to Check If an Image Is AI-Generated: 5 Steps
- Zoom in on the details. Hands, handles, text, furniture and reflections often break the rules of real objects.
- Run a reverse image search. If the scene exists only inside a dramatic composite, be suspicious.
- Check any “proof” inserts. A real product photo placed next to a scene proves nothing about the scene.
- Run an AI image detector. Upload the image to an AI image checker to get a probability score.
- Look for credible reporting. A real incident would be covered by independent media or confirmed by officials.
What Does a 98% AI Score Mean?
A detector score is a probability, not a verdict. It is most useful when it agrees with other evidence, as it did here.
UncovAI’s 98% means the tool estimates a 98% likelihood that AI tools made the image. AFP used it alongside visual analysis, reverse image search and the manufacturer’s statement. We recommend treating every AI image detector this way, ours included.
UncovAI had no role in AFP’s editorial conclusions, and this article doesn’t imply a partnership.
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FAQ: Checking Whether an Image Is AI
Is the image of Ukrainian police with a tranquilizer gun real?
No. AFP Fact Check found the image was created with AI. It has visual errors, the scene never appeared anywhere without an added inset photo, and the manufacturer of the real tranquilizer rifle in that inset said the object on the uniformed man's back is not a tranquilizer gun. UncovAI rated the image 98% likely to be AI-generated.
How do I check if an image is AI-generated?
Look for physical impossibilities, run a reverse image search to see where the picture first appeared, compare any objects with real products, and run the image through an AI image detector such as UncovAI. Treat the score as supporting evidence rather than proof.
What does a 98% AI score mean?
It means the detector estimates a 98% probability that the image was created with AI tools. It is a likelihood, not a certainty, which is why fact-checkers combine it with visual clues, reverse image search and expert statements.
Why was a real photo of a raccoon added to the image?
According to AFP, the inset showed an authentic promotional photo of a veterinary tranquilizer rifle and a raccoon hit by a dart. It was added to make the composite look like proof that the object was a real tranquilizer gun.
Can UncovAI check images, videos and voice notes?
Yes. UncovAI is an AI content detector for text, images, video and voice. It also offers an AI video detector and a deepfake Telegram bot for checking media inside Telegram.
Sources
- AFP Fact Check (AFP Slovakia), article on the image of Ukrainian “police” with a tranquilizer gun, by Eduard Starkbauer, November 5, 2026.
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