The kremlin fabricates a “Hollywood position” against Ukraine
russia has organized a disinformation campaign on social media under the hashtag #HollywoodAgainstZelensky. The campaign circulated fabricated videos allegedly featuring Hollywood actors calling for pressure on Ukraine to achieve a “peace on russia’s terms.”
▫️ Fake videos include actors such as Nikki Blonsky, John Seda, and Gabriella Pizzolo. There is no evidence supporting these claims. The videos are absent from the verified pages of the celebrities and were disseminated by anonymous accounts without followers or biographies. Deepfake detection tools confirm that the clips were generated using artificial intelligence.
▫️ Researchers assess that the campaign is part of a broader kremlin-linked online influence network. Its tactics align with the methods of the “Matryoshka” bot network, which masks fake content under the guise of legitimate sources—media, government institutions, or public figures. Initially, a small group of anonymous accounts releases the content, which is then amplified by a bot network, creating the illusion of mass support.
These deepfake videos aim to promote kremlin-favorable narratives about “war fatigue” and alleged Ukrainian “intransigence,” exploiting public trust in celebrities. The campaign is synchronized with diplomatic processes and discussions on ending the war, with the strategic goal of weakening international support for Ukraine.
Materials from @antibot4navalny were used to create this collage.
