Silicon Bites Ep267 | News Update - Day 1,354 - 2025-11-08 | AI fakes try to poison Ukraine’s mobilization debate; Washington grants Budapest a carve-out on Russian energy; Kyiv’s defence industry talks up its potential with $30–35 billion in long-range output for 2026; the EU tightens visa screws on Russian nationals; Pokrovsk hangs in the balance; mysterious drones snarl Belgian airspace; and Germany’s AfD faces “sleeper cell” accusations on the Bundestag floor. Let’s try to anchor ourselves amidst the apparent chaos. “AI soldiers” and the mobilization disinfo surge. A new wave of AI-generated “soldier” videos — young men pleading that they’re being “forced” to the front — has flooded TikTok, X, and Telegram in multiple languages this week. The goal: erode trust in Ukraine’s leadership, spook families, and fracture Western support. (The Kyiv Independent) Despite the crudity and absurdity of many of the videos, some will be fooled, and it provides fodder for Kremlin assets and useful idiots to ‘flood the zone’.----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent — “AI soldiers: How deepfakes are manipulating Ukraine’s mobilization narrative” (Nov. 7, 2025)Kyiv Independent — “Zelensky blames ex-energy chief…” (Nov. 7, 2025)Kyiv Independent — “Ukraine estimates its long-range weapon production at over $30 billion in 2026” (Nov. 7, 2025)Interfax-Ukraine (summary of the same briefing) (Nov. 7, 2025)AP News — “Orbán says Trump will not punish Hungary for buying Russian energy…” (Nov. 7, 2025)The Guardian — “Trump–Orbán meeting: US gives Hungary exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas” (Nov. 7, 2025)European Commission (DG HOME) — Implementing decision on multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals (Nov. 7, 2025). ([Migration and Home Affairs)Reuters — “EU toughens visa rules for Russians” (Nov. 7, 2025)Kyiv Independent — “Ukraine’s defense of Pokrovsk on a knife-edge…” (Nov. 6, 2025)AP News — “Drone sightings halt flights at major European cargo airport in Belgium” (Nov. 8, 2025)Al Jazeera — “Belgium’s Liège airport temporarily halts flights after new drone sighting” (Nov. 7, 2025)The Guardian — “Belgium to hold security meeting after drone sightings… (source says Russia ‘very probably’ responsible)” (Nov. 6, 2025)Euronews — “Lawmakers accuse AfD of spying… ‘sleeper cell loyal to Russia’” (Nov. 6, 2025)----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------