Overview

• Nearly 80 disinformation operations by Russian actors were conducted between August 2023 and March 2025, primarily targeting Ukraine and its Western allies, including France.
• Storm-1516 used advanced tactics, including AI-generated personas, paid amateur actors, and pro-Russian influencers, to amplify anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western narratives.
• The campaign sought to interfere with the 2024 French legislative elections and undermine trust in democratic institutions across Europe.
• Content laundering through media outlets, particularly in Africa, was a key strategy to obscure the Kremlin's involvement in spreading disinformation.
• The French foreign ministry has urged digital platforms to act against these networks, emphasizing the significant threat to public debate in France and Europe.