Russian MoD to probe meme-triggering video game screenshot attached to Syria statement
Russia’s Defense Ministry says it has launched an inquiry into pictures mistakenly attached to its statement. One was a screenshot from a mobile game, leading to the internet exploding with memes.
“The Russian Ministry of Defense is investigating its civilian employee who mistakenly attached photos to a statement on the US-led coalition’s interaction with the Islamic State militants in the area of Abu-Kamal,” the military said in a statement.
Earlier Tuesday, the MoD uploaded images on Facebook and Twitter, which it said were evidence that the US were actually covering up Islamic State (IS, ISIS/ISIL) combat units.
The online crowd was quick to point out that one of the pictures was actually a screenshot from “C-130 Gunship Simulator: Special Ops Squadron” mobile game.
The Defense Ministry removed the photos from the post on Facebook and deleted the tweet. It later reposted the same statement with different images.
#RusMoD shows irrefutable evidence that US are actually covering ISIS combat units to recover their combat capabilities, redeploy, and use them to promote the American interests in the Middle East https://t.co/jcb7G4MAfZpic.twitter.com/VIMjfFGJEg
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 14, 2017
But it was too late to stop the meme flow. Twitter users rushed to outwit each other in suggesting what other games – Minesweeper, Super Mario Brothers, Space invaders – could illustrate the Russian military statements.
Irrefutable evidence of American tanks defending ISIS in Syria pic.twitter.com/rv1wc3ovwe
— Soviet Sergey (@SovietSergey) 14 ноября 2017 г.
BREAKING NEWS: Watch this high-quality GoPro footage that proves US supporting ISIS in Syria pic.twitter.com/LtDWXUHueu
— GameTree (@gametreeapp) 14 ноября 2017 г.
#RusMoD shows irrefutable evidence that US are actually covering ISIS combat units to recover their combat capabilities, redeploy, and use them to promote the American interests in the Middle East pic.twitter.com/e7HMUKgCz6
— Jimmy Rushmore (@JimmyRushmore) 14 ноября 2017 г.
#RusMoD shows irrefutable evidence that US are actually covering ISIS combat units to recover their combat capabilities, redeploy, and use them to promote the American interests in the Middle East pic.twitter.com/xNikgnpeyE
— Jimmy Rushmore (@JimmyRushmore) 14 ноября 2017 г.
