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Signal
Submitted
Apr 28, 2026, 14:01 UTC
Analysis in multiple European countries reveals ongoing Russian-controlled disinformation accounts on X targeting Germany and France in June 2024.
A trans-European analysis conducted in June 2024 identified 1,366 social media posts on platform X attributed to Russian-controlled accounts as part of a long-running 'Doppelgänger' disinformation campaign. The campaign, active primarily in Germany and France, spreads prorussian and anti-Ukraine narratives, often criticizing Western support for Ukraine and domestic governments, notably Germany's Ampel coalition and France's President Macron. The posts commonly link to fake news websites mimicking reputable media outlets like Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung, aiming to sow division and erode trust in Ukraine support. The analysis revealed coordinated behavior including few followers, recent account creation, anomalous sharing patterns, and little engagement beyond shares. Researchers criticized X for insufficient action against these accounts despite extensive reporting. The campaign overlaps with political events but focuses on longer-term themes rather than spontaneous issues. Its exact impact on public opinion or elections remains difficult to measure, but the risk of influencing population attitudes exists.
Confidence: High
The article explicitly documents a continuing Russian disinformation operation targeting German and French populations via known coordinated troll accounts on social media platform X, with concrete evidence of account activity and content.
Source URL
https://tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/kontext/russland-desinformation-analyse-100.html
Published as a hybrid-warfare signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "9ad4a24d-ff66-41c0-9392-538ab057f225",
"url": "https://tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/kontext/russland-desinformation-analyse-100.html",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Cyber & Information Warfare",
"subcategory": "Information Operations",
"incident_type": "Propaganda & disinformation campaigns",
"country": "Unknown",
"source_reliability": "A",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"Russian disinformation",
"Doppelgänger campaign",
"X platform",
"Propaganda",
"Social media manipulation",
"Germany",
"France",
"Ukraine war influence",
"Political influence",
"Hybrid warfare"
],
"nodes": [
"Node 2: 5th Column"
],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Cyberspace",
"headline": null,
"description": "In June 2024, researchers coordinated by CeMAS and Alliance4Europe identified 1,366 posts on X (formerly Twitter) linked to the Russian 'Doppelgänger' disinformation campaign targeting Germany and France. The posts disseminated anti-Ukraine and anti-Western narratives, criticizing the Ukraine aid and the German Ampel government, while supporting political groups like AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht's Bündnis. French-language posts similarly targeted President Macron and praised the Rassemblement National. The campaign uses fake news sites resembling reputable German media as sources. The accounts shared posts extensively but with little genuine engagement, often having few followers and recent creation dates. Despite notifying X about 623 accounts, only one was suspended weeks later. Researchers warn that while measuring the exact influence is challenging, the campaign risks hurting democratic support for Ukraine and deepening social divisions. They emphasize X's failure to effectively counter the campaign despite known patterns and prior exposure.",
"summary_short": "Analysis in multiple European countries reveals ongoing Russian-controlled disinformation accounts on X targeting Germany and France in June 2024.",
"summary_extended": "A trans-European analysis conducted in June 2024 identified 1,366 social media posts on platform X attributed to Russian-controlled accounts as part of a long-running 'Doppelgänger' disinformation campaign. The campaign, active primarily in Germany and France, spreads prorussian and anti-Ukraine narratives, often criticizing Western support for Ukraine and domestic governments, notably Germany's Ampel coalition and France's President Macron. The posts commonly link to fake news websites mimicking reputable media outlets like Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung, aiming to sow division and erode trust in Ukraine support. The analysis revealed coordinated behavior including few followers, recent account creation, anomalous sharing patterns, and little engagement beyond shares. Researchers criticized X for insufficient action against these accounts despite extensive reporting. The campaign overlaps with political events but focuses on longer-term themes rather than spontaneous issues. Its exact impact on public opinion or elections remains difficult to measure, but the risk of influencing population attitudes exists.",
"actor_primary": "Russian-controlled accounts",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Cyberspace",
"location_region": "Cyberspace",
"location_coordinates_lat": 26.4925331,
"location_coordinates_lon": 92.3308789,
"location_precision": "Regional",
"is_aggressor_signal": true,
"signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "The article explicitly documents a continuing Russian disinformation operation targeting German and French populations via known coordinated troll accounts on social media platform X, with concrete evidence of account activity and content.",
"event_time_utc": "2024-06-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
"created_at": "2026-04-28T14:01:00.343Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-10T02:40:42.136Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "regional",
"time_precision_band": "within_24h",
"severity_band": "moderate",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
A
Info credibility
3
Event time
Jun 1, 2024, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
pm24h
Location
Cyberspace
Region
Cyberspace
Primary actor
Russian-controlled accounts
Country
Unknown
Tags
Russian disinformation, Doppelgänger campaign, X platform, Propaganda, Social media manipulation, Germany, France, Ukraine war influence, Political influence, Hybrid warfare
Nodes
Node 2: 5th Column
Signal
Submitted
Apr 28, 2026, 14:01 UTC
Analysis in multiple European countries reveals ongoing Russian-controlled disinformation accounts on X targeting Germany and France in June 2024.
A trans-European analysis conducted in June 2024 identified 1,366 social media posts on platform X attributed to Russian-controlled accounts as part of a long-running 'Doppelgänger' disinformation campaign. The campaign, active primarily in Germany and France, spreads prorussian and anti-Ukraine narratives, often criticizing Western support for Ukraine and domestic governments, notably Germany's Ampel coalition and France's President Macron. The posts commonly link to fake news websites mimicking reputable media outlets like Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung, aiming to sow division and erode trust in Ukraine support. The analysis revealed coordinated behavior including few followers, recent account creation, anomalous sharing patterns, and little engagement beyond shares. Researchers criticized X for insufficient action against these accounts despite extensive reporting. The campaign overlaps with political events but focuses on longer-term themes rather than spontaneous issues. Its exact impact on public opinion or elections remains difficult to measure, but the risk of influencing population attitudes exists.
Confidence: High
The article explicitly documents a continuing Russian disinformation operation targeting German and French populations via known coordinated troll accounts on social media platform X, with concrete evidence of account activity and content.
Source URL
https://tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/kontext/russland-desinformation-analyse-100.html
Published as a hybrid-warfare signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "9ad4a24d-ff66-41c0-9392-538ab057f225",
"url": "https://tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/kontext/russland-desinformation-analyse-100.html",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Cyber & Information Warfare",
"subcategory": "Information Operations",
"incident_type": "Propaganda & disinformation campaigns",
"country": "Unknown",
"source_reliability": "A",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"Russian disinformation",
"Doppelgänger campaign",
"X platform",
"Propaganda",
"Social media manipulation",
"Germany",
"France",
"Ukraine war influence",
"Political influence",
"Hybrid warfare"
],
"nodes": [
"Node 2: 5th Column"
],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Cyberspace",
"headline": null,
"description": "In June 2024, researchers coordinated by CeMAS and Alliance4Europe identified 1,366 posts on X (formerly Twitter) linked to the Russian 'Doppelgänger' disinformation campaign targeting Germany and France. The posts disseminated anti-Ukraine and anti-Western narratives, criticizing the Ukraine aid and the German Ampel government, while supporting political groups like AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht's Bündnis. French-language posts similarly targeted President Macron and praised the Rassemblement National. The campaign uses fake news sites resembling reputable German media as sources. The accounts shared posts extensively but with little genuine engagement, often having few followers and recent creation dates. Despite notifying X about 623 accounts, only one was suspended weeks later. Researchers warn that while measuring the exact influence is challenging, the campaign risks hurting democratic support for Ukraine and deepening social divisions. They emphasize X's failure to effectively counter the campaign despite known patterns and prior exposure.",
"summary_short": "Analysis in multiple European countries reveals ongoing Russian-controlled disinformation accounts on X targeting Germany and France in June 2024.",
"summary_extended": "A trans-European analysis conducted in June 2024 identified 1,366 social media posts on platform X attributed to Russian-controlled accounts as part of a long-running 'Doppelgänger' disinformation campaign. The campaign, active primarily in Germany and France, spreads prorussian and anti-Ukraine narratives, often criticizing Western support for Ukraine and domestic governments, notably Germany's Ampel coalition and France's President Macron. The posts commonly link to fake news websites mimicking reputable media outlets like Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung, aiming to sow division and erode trust in Ukraine support. The analysis revealed coordinated behavior including few followers, recent account creation, anomalous sharing patterns, and little engagement beyond shares. Researchers criticized X for insufficient action against these accounts despite extensive reporting. The campaign overlaps with political events but focuses on longer-term themes rather than spontaneous issues. Its exact impact on public opinion or elections remains difficult to measure, but the risk of influencing population attitudes exists.",
"actor_primary": "Russian-controlled accounts",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Cyberspace",
"location_region": "Cyberspace",
"location_coordinates_lat": 26.4925331,
"location_coordinates_lon": 92.3308789,
"location_precision": "Regional",
"is_aggressor_signal": true,
"signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "The article explicitly documents a continuing Russian disinformation operation targeting German and French populations via known coordinated troll accounts on social media platform X, with concrete evidence of account activity and content.",
"event_time_utc": "2024-06-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
"created_at": "2026-04-28T14:01:00.343Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-10T02:40:42.136Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "regional",
"time_precision_band": "within_24h",
"severity_band": "moderate",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
A
Info credibility
3
Event time
Jun 1, 2024, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
pm24h
Location
Cyberspace
Region
Cyberspace
Primary actor
Russian-controlled accounts
Country
Unknown
Tags
Russian disinformation, Doppelgänger campaign, X platform, Propaganda, Social media manipulation, Germany, France, Ukraine war influence, Political influence, Hybrid warfare
Nodes
Node 2: 5th Column