Morgan McSweeney may join the fight against Russian deepfakes
Former chief of staff to the UK Prime Minister, Morgan McSweeney, will visit Kyiv later this month. He will participate in the Kyiv Security Forum and may aim to assist Ukraine in conducting elections in the future.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the British newspaper The Times.
Read also: Rada decides whether there will be elections in Ukraine during the war
McSweeney, who resigned in February, was one of the most influential figures in the British government. The strategist is interested in how artificial intelligence will change future elections. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that elections would be announced immediately after a ceasefire agreement is reached.
Experts believe that McSweeney wants to support the Ukrainian government. The strategist considers the upcoming elections in Ukraine to be the most significant in modern European history. He has already hinted to friends that he is interested in helping Zelensky, although he has not yet engaged in official negotiations with Bankova.
For 48-year-old McSweeney, AI is a very interesting technology and a relevant tool currently being used in elections. According to Swiss researchers from the International Expert Group on the Information Environment, AI was used in 80% of the elections in 2024.
Russia actively employs these tools. Along with China and Iran, it has a history of interfering in democratic processes. The main threat is deepfakes—fake videos and images that become too realistic. An ordinary voter is unlikely to distinguish truth from manipulation, which is why McSweeney wants to help Ukraine withstand this digital war.
What is known about the KSF
The Kyiv Security Forum is the main high-level event in Ukraine. Current and former world leaders will gather here.
Invited to the event:
- Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson;
- Former US President George W. Bush;
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk;
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
What is known about the elections in Ukraine
Sociologists note that more and more Ukrainians oppose elections during the war. Only 12% of Ukrainians support holding elections before the end of hostilities. This figure has remained at 10-12% throughout 2025.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported that if elections are held, there will simply not be enough polling stations for Ukrainians abroad. It is proposed to expand the network of polling stations by creating new ones based on a decision by the Central Election Commission upon the ministry’s recommendation.
