ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Russian News Channel Criticised for Using Video Game Footage in Veteran's Tribute

Russian News Channel Criticised for Using Video Game Footage in Veteran's Tribute

Russia's Channel One TV has been criticised for using video game footage in a tribute to soldiers, including one recently killed in Syria

Ronan O'Shea

Ronan O'Shea

A Russian television channel has come under criticism from viewers after it accidentally used footage from a video game in a segment about (real life) conflict in Syria and veterans.

Weekly programme Voskresnoye Vremya (Sunday Time) airs on Russia's state-owned Channel One TV and reports on the week's events.

This week's show coincided with 23rd February celebration Defender of the Fatherland Day, celebrated throughout Russia and also in Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

Although first celebrated in 1919 to mark the first draft into the Red Army, it is now characterised by parades and processions to honour veterans, but also seen as a celebration of men as a whole, with many women giving gifts to the male counterparts in the office.

President Putin attends a Defenders of the Fatherland Day ceremony (
PA)

Honoured troops in 2018's segment included Roman Filippov, who died in combat in Syria earlier this month.

After being shot down, the Russian Sukhoi Su-25 pilot blew himself up with a grenade to avoid capture.

Filippov was posthumously awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation awarded, along with its Gold Star.

It was during footage of Sukhoi Su-25 jets that game footage appeared onscreen from a tactical computer game called Arma-3.

Users of Pikabu, Russia's equivalent to Reddit, were quick to notice the unusual split-second clip as a reel from the video game.

"This frame is not needed at all, it flashes a split second, does not make any sense. Why did they put it in there? Maybe this is a hidden message from the staff of the first channel? Type: "We are forced to do this, help'," one user speculated.

Others suggested the clip had been inserted accidentally.

As the BBC reports, Russian radio station Govorit Moskva quoted the television channel's press service: "The use of this frame was the error of the editing director who took it from the archive. Earlier this frame was used in the plot connected with computer games."

The Defenders of the Fatherland Day honors the nation's military and is a nationwide holiday (
PA)

In other quarters, the insertion of the clip, accidental or otherwise, was criticised as a lowering of standards at the broadcaster.

It is not the first time Arma-3 has led to political controversy. In 2013, two Czech developers (the game was developed in the Czech Republic) were arrested on espionage charges after taking photographs of military installations, while the game itself is banned in Iran.

Back in the real world, Russia's involvement in Syria began in 2015 following an official request from the government. It has been involved in air strikes and now has troops based permanently in the Middle Eastern nation.


Featured Image Credit: 1tv.ru

Topics: military, Russia