# OpenAI briefed Russian pranksters posing as Ukraine's spy chief

> Original title: OpenAI was fooled into briefing Russian pranksters on its military AI help for Ukraine, thinking they were Ukraine’s spy chief.

- Source: Rohan Paul
- Published: 2026-11-12T04:26:46.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/grx8vtzpexpm76z0ks3dufm92
- Original: https://x.com/rohanpaul_ai/status/2120735027428560934

## Summary

OpenAI's national security policy head Sasha Baker and two colleagues joined a 17-minute video call with a person impersonating Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's foreign intelligence chief. The call openly covered OpenAI's AI support for Ukraine's military, including possible offensive uses, Pentagon contacts and its Daybreak Blue cyber work. The pranksters later posted the recording on Rumble, and OpenAI says it has since confirmed the prank with authorities and tightened its procedures.

## Post

OpenAI was fooled into briefing Russian pranksters on its military AI help for Ukraine, thinking they were Ukraine’s spy chief.

Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus first called a real Ukrainian official in San Francisco while pretending to be Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s foreign intelligence chief. 

That official, already in touch with OpenAI’s national security policy head Sasha Baker, believed them and set up a meeting with OpenAI. 

Baker and 2 colleagues then joined a 17-minute video call with the fake Umerov, whose camera stayed off, and openly discussed OpenAI’s AI support for Ukraine’s military, including possible offensive uses, its Pentagon contacts and its Daybreak Blue cyber work. 

The pranksters later posted the recording on Rumble, and OpenAI says it has since confirmed the prank with authorities and tightened its procedures.

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