Key facts
- Russia is actively campaigning to prevent pro-Ukraine candidates from winning the French presidential election.
- French agency Viginum has detected hundreds of Russian disinformation operations targeting the vote.
- False claims include allegations of torture prisons, inherited drug empires, and dementia.
- Two Russian-linked campaigns, Matryoshka and Storm-1516, are identified as key actors.
- Storm-1516 uses generative AI to create sophisticated fake news websites and stories.
- The ultimate goal is to erode trust in French democratic institutions and delegitimize the election outcome.
Russia is actively engaged in a disinformation campaign aimed at preventing pro-Ukraine candidates from winning the upcoming French presidential election in April 2027. The French agency Viginum has identified hundreds of operations spreading false narratives about key figures like Raphael Glucksmann, Gabriel Attal, and Edouard Philippe. These campaigns seek to portray the candidates as mentally unstable, corrupt, or unfit for office, echoing tactics used against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The ultimate goal appears to be eroding trust in French democratic institutions and delegitimizing the election's outcome, potentially paving the way for candidates more favorable to Russia's interests.
Two notable Russian-linked campaigns, Matryoshka and Storm-1516, are at the forefront of these efforts. Matryoshka is described as highly prolific, disseminating numerous false reports daily while impersonating established media outlets. Storm-1516, associated with Russia's GRU, employs generative AI to create sophisticated fake websites and narratives. These operations have targeted candidates with allegations ranging from involvement in torture prisons to inherited criminal empires and cognitive decline. While current impact is deemed limited, the evolving nature of these campaigns, particularly the use of AI, poses a persistent risk, especially if amplified by Russian state media or sympathetic political figures.