{
  "id": "c096944b-3a14-482d-a8b4-8ced2205586c",
  "url": "https://united24media.com/latest-news/austria-exposes-russian-fsb-network-posing-as-ukrainian-nazis-to-sway-public-opinion-against-ukraine-14260",
  "source": "hwt_web_submit",
  "status": "approved",
  "category": "Cyber & Information Warfare",
  "subcategory": "Information Operations",
  "incident_type": "Fake NGOs / shell media outlets",
  "country": "Austria",
  "source_reliability": "C",
  "info_credibility": "3",
  "tags": [
    "FSB",
    "Russian propaganda",
    "Austria",
    "Disinformation",
    "Azov",
    "Espionage",
    "Marsalek"
  ],
  "nodes": [],
  "countries": [],
  "where_text": "Land",
  "headline": null,
  "description": "Austrian intelligence investigations in March 2025 revealed a Russian FSB-backed influence cell orchestrated by former Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek. The group spread street-level propaganda in Vienna, including fake \"pro-Ukraine\" graffiti and stickers featuring Nazi-associated symbols like the Wolfsangel to discredit Ukraine and obscure Moscow’s role in the conflict. They created websites posing as European offshoots of Ukraine’s Azov unit to further disinformation campaigns in German-speaking countries. A Bulgarian woman arrested admitted to photographing the Vienna materials and being involved in the operation. This cell is linked to a larger espionage network examined in the UK, where six Bulgarians were jailed for spying with ties to Marsalek.",
  "summary_short": "Austria exposed a Russian FSB network using fake pro-Ukraine graffiti and websites posing as Ukrainian Nazis to influence public opinion against Ukraine in early 2025.",
  "summary_extended": "In March 2025, Austrian domestic intelligence uncovered a Russian FSB-linked influence operation coordinated by fugitive Jan Marsalek and associate Orlin Roussev. The network used fake graffiti and stickers with neo-Nazi symbolism on Vienna streets to incite backlash against Ukraine, disguising these as pro-Ukrainian activism. They also planned websites impersonating European branches of Ukraine's Azov unit to amplify disinformation. A Bulgarian suspect detained admitted involvement but claimed ignorance of Russian backing. The operation included extensive coordination and funding for design and production of propaganda materials. This Austrian case connects to a broader network investigated by British authorities involving Bulgarian nationals jailed for espionage coordinated with Marsalek.",
  "actor_primary": "Jan Marsalek",
  "target_primary": null,
  "location_text": "Austria",
  "location_region": null,
  "location_coordinates_lat": 47.516231,
  "location_coordinates_lon": 14.550072,
  "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 clearly describes a Russian FSB-orchestrated disinformation and espionage operation targeting Austria and broader German-speaking countries to manipulate public opinion against Ukraine, showing direct aggressor action. There is no mention of allied defensive or preparatory measures in the article.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z",
  "end_time_utc": null,
  "event_time_confidence": "unknown",
  "created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:45.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T08:36:03.522Z",
  "reliability_band": "strong",
  "location_precision_band": "regional",
  "time_precision_band": "unknown",
  "severity_band": "moderate",
  "attribution_confidence_band": "high",
  "attribution_basis": "single_source"
}

{
  "id": "c096944b-3a14-482d-a8b4-8ced2205586c",
  "url": "https://united24media.com/latest-news/austria-exposes-russian-fsb-network-posing-as-ukrainian-nazis-to-sway-public-opinion-against-ukraine-14260",
  "source": "hwt_web_submit",
  "status": "approved",
  "category": "Cyber & Information Warfare",
  "subcategory": "Information Operations",
  "incident_type": "Fake NGOs / shell media outlets",
  "country": "Austria",
  "source_reliability": "C",
  "info_credibility": "3",
  "tags": [
    "FSB",
    "Russian propaganda",
    "Austria",
    "Disinformation",
    "Azov",
    "Espionage",
    "Marsalek"
  ],
  "nodes": [],
  "countries": [],
  "where_text": "Land",
  "headline": null,
  "description": "Austrian intelligence investigations in March 2025 revealed a Russian FSB-backed influence cell orchestrated by former Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek. The group spread street-level propaganda in Vienna, including fake \"pro-Ukraine\" graffiti and stickers featuring Nazi-associated symbols like the Wolfsangel to discredit Ukraine and obscure Moscow’s role in the conflict. They created websites posing as European offshoots of Ukraine’s Azov unit to further disinformation campaigns in German-speaking countries. A Bulgarian woman arrested admitted to photographing the Vienna materials and being involved in the operation. This cell is linked to a larger espionage network examined in the UK, where six Bulgarians were jailed for spying with ties to Marsalek.",
  "summary_short": "Austria exposed a Russian FSB network using fake pro-Ukraine graffiti and websites posing as Ukrainian Nazis to influence public opinion against Ukraine in early 2025.",
  "summary_extended": "In March 2025, Austrian domestic intelligence uncovered a Russian FSB-linked influence operation coordinated by fugitive Jan Marsalek and associate Orlin Roussev. The network used fake graffiti and stickers with neo-Nazi symbolism on Vienna streets to incite backlash against Ukraine, disguising these as pro-Ukrainian activism. They also planned websites impersonating European branches of Ukraine's Azov unit to amplify disinformation. A Bulgarian suspect detained admitted involvement but claimed ignorance of Russian backing. The operation included extensive coordination and funding for design and production of propaganda materials. This Austrian case connects to a broader network investigated by British authorities involving Bulgarian nationals jailed for espionage coordinated with Marsalek.",
  "actor_primary": "Jan Marsalek",
  "target_primary": null,
  "location_text": "Austria",
  "location_region": null,
  "location_coordinates_lat": 47.516231,
  "location_coordinates_lon": 14.550072,
  "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 clearly describes a Russian FSB-orchestrated disinformation and espionage operation targeting Austria and broader German-speaking countries to manipulate public opinion against Ukraine, showing direct aggressor action. There is no mention of allied defensive or preparatory measures in the article.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z",
  "end_time_utc": null,
  "event_time_confidence": "unknown",
  "created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:45.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T08:36:03.522Z",
  "reliability_band": "strong",
  "location_precision_band": "regional",
  "time_precision_band": "unknown",
  "severity_band": "moderate",
  "attribution_confidence_band": "high",
  "attribution_basis": "single_source"
}