Leaked Files from Putin's Troll Factory: How Russia Manipulated European Elections

On September 16, 2024, leaked internal files from Putin's troll factory exposed how Russia conducted a sophisticated information warfare campaign aimed at manipulating the European Parliament elections. The operation supported far-right political parties by disseminating disinformation, fake news, and propaganda to undermine democratic institutions and promote division among EU member states. The campaign employed fake NGOs, shell media outlets, and social media manipulation techniques across various European countries. By amplifying nationalism, anti-immigrant and anti-EU sentiments, Russia aimed to weaken Europe’s unity and democratic resilience. This disclosure strengthens evidence of ongoing Russian efforts to interfere in the political processes of Western democracies through cyber and information warfare tactics.