The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) uncovered a staged video circulated on social media on April 10, 2026, purporting to show Ukrainian military personnel planning a Maidan-style riot in Budapest. The individuals wear unmarked military uniforms, no faces or locations are identifiable, and the behavior appears artificial. This propaganda effort, attributed to Russian entities and theatrical studios working with Russia’s Ministry of Defense, is part of ongoing monthly disinformation campaigns to discredit Ukraine by alleging interference in European elections, focusing specifically on Hungary. The video first appeared on accounts aligned with Russian propaganda and coincided with an activation of pro-Russian bloggers pushing narratives of Ukrainian election interference. The CCD suggests former Berkut officers who fled Russia after 2014 may be involved in staging provocations or creating false evidence. The goal is to sow distrust among EU and NATO partners toward Ukraine and influence political situations in Europe. Concurrently, Russian intelligence continues hybrid warfare against Europe through hacking operations targeting routers.

The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) uncovered a staged video circulated on social media on April 10, 2026, purporting to show Ukrainian military personnel planning a Maidan-style riot in Budapest. The individuals wear unmarked military uniforms, no faces or locations are identifiable, and the behavior appears artificial. This propaganda effort, attributed to Russian entities and theatrical studios working with Russia’s Ministry of Defense, is part of ongoing monthly disinformation campaigns to discredit Ukraine by alleging interference in European elections, focusing specifically on Hungary. The video first appeared on accounts aligned with Russian propaganda and coincided with an activation of pro-Russian bloggers pushing narratives of Ukrainian election interference. The CCD suggests former Berkut officers who fled Russia after 2014 may be involved in staging provocations or creating false evidence. The goal is to sow distrust among EU and NATO partners toward Ukraine and influence political situations in Europe. Concurrently, Russian intelligence continues hybrid warfare against Europe through hacking operations targeting routers.