Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets German Leader Merz Over Ukraine Support
A recent wave of Russian disinformation has intensified its focus on Germany’s newly appointed leader, Friedrich Merz, who has taken office for just four months. This campaign is linked to Merz’s outspoken support of Ukraine, according to intelligence officials and experts, heightening concerns about Russia’s increasing attempts to influence European politics, reports 24brussels.
“Germany is a particular focus,” stated a Western intelligence official. “Russia is able to quickly and flexibly pick up on events in Germany and use them to achieve its goals in the information environment. It is frightening how fast and adaptable this system is, but also how long-term it is designed to be.”
Analysts suggest that Merz’s rise as a key target of Russian disinformation efforts is hardly a surprise. “With his very, very outspoken support for Ukraine — how he has mobilized the international community to support Ukraine, and is vocal against Russia — these campaigns have more aggressively targeted Merz,” said Pablo Maristany de las Casas, an analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), specializing in disinformation.
‘Fake or True?!’
The proliferation of false reports commonly features on bogus news websites, often interspersed with legitimate articles from credible sources. These stories gain traction as they are spread online by a network of pro-Kremlin influencers.
In one notable instance, the polar bear hoax was propagated by pro-Kremlin social media influencer Alina Lipp, who was sanctioned by the European Union in May for promoting “Russia’s destabilizing actions abroad.”
