“Matryoshka” botnet campaign against Ukraine and Western leaders
Analysts monitoring kremlin hybrid operations on social media have identified a large-scale disinformation campaign conducted by the “Matryoshka” bot network, launched following the publication of new documents in the Epstein case by the U.S. Department of Justice.
▫️ Under the guise of content from well-known Western media outlets, fake videos, posts, and newspaper covers are being widely circulated on social media. These materials blend real facts with fabricated allegations against Western and Ukrainian politicians, as well as international institutions.
▫️ The botnet has disseminated a series of false narratives linking Ukraine and Western leaders to the Epstein case, including fabrications about “the use of Ukrainian children” and false claims that French President Emmanuel Macron allegedly visited Epstein’s island.
The fake materials are published under the names of influential media outlets. However, verification confirms that none of these materials were ever published by the outlets the bot network uses as cover. All videos, quotes, and covers are falsified and distributed synchronously through the bot network on X, Telegram, and BlueSky.
The campaign aims to exploit a high-profile topic to discredit democratic institutions, Ukraine, and Western leaders, and to sow distrust in governments and media. A particular focus is on linking Ukraine to toxic narratives and inserting a Ukrainian context into conspiracy theories.
The Center previously reported on the activities of the “Matryoshka” bot network, which is systematically used for kremlin hybrid operations.
