Inside Russia’s Secret Propaganda Army Manipulating Europe’s Far-Right and Targeting Ukraine
Leaked documents from Russia’s Social Design Agency (SDA), a Kremlin-controlled propaganda arm, have exposed a large-scale operation aimed at influencing European elections and discrediting Ukraine. The documents, shared by media outlets such as Delfi Estonia, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and VSquare Project, reveal a concerted effort by the SDA to bolster far-right political movements and undermine Western support for Ukraine through disinformation and manipulation of social media narratives.
At the heart of the campaign is the SDA, described in internal files as a “public relations company specializing in election campaigns.” However, its operations go far beyond typical PR work. According to the leaks, the agency employs “ideologists,” “commentators,” and a “bot farm operator” whose mission is to flood social media platforms with manipulated content.
Their goal: to shape political opinions in favor of Russian interests by spreading anti-Ukrainian and far-right narratives across Europe and the United States.
Between early 2024 and April of that year, the SDA’s so-called “Russian Digital Army” generated 33.9 million comments, alongside thousands of original videos, memes, and infographics. These efforts, according to the documents, aimed to sway opinions in favor of pro-Russian political movements, particularly far-right groups like Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France’s National Rally.
The SDA’s operations were tightly coordinated with the Kremlin. One document revealed in a U.S. Department of Justice affidavit confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff, Sergei Kiriyenko, and Sofia Zakharova, a Kremlin aide, were deeply involved in planning the disinformation campaigns. They reportedly regularly met with SDA’s head, Ilya Gambashidze, to discuss strategies for influencing elections in Europe and the U.S.
Fabricating stories
Leaked documents detail how SDA operatives were instructed to post fake comments on social media, often pretending to be regular citizens. For example, a directive for Germany instructed a “commentator” to impersonate a 38-year-old German woman lamenting the country’s economic woes and blaming financial support for Ukraine.
The fabricated comments echoed similar efforts targeting the U.S., where disinformation focused on reducing public support for military aid to Ukraine. One particular instruction read, “Write a 400-character comment from a 38-year-old American woman, who believes military aid to Ukraine and Israel should be cut. Zelensky is wasting taxpayers’ money!”
Ukraine, a primary target of these efforts, also faced disinformation campaigns that included fabricated documents and stories. One document revealed that Russian operatives forged evidence about a plane crash in Belgorod in January 2024, falsely blaming Ukrainian forces for shooting down the aircraft and killing prisoners of war.
The SDA’s influence campaigns were particularly focused on European Union elections, especially targeting countries with strong far-right movements. A leaked SDA memo stated that Russia’s interests would be best served by the success of the far-right Identity and Democracy parliamentary group.
The memo described specific anti-globalist and anti-LGBTQ narratives that could resonate with far-right voters. One SDA proposal stated, “Liberals and globalists spread fear and want us to panic. We must fear war, climate disasters, viruses, a Russian attack.”
In Germany, the far-right AfD was a key focus of these operations. One leaked memo celebrated an unnamed AfD leader’s rise to prominence, proclaiming, “Our opinion leader became the deputy leader of the AfD faction!”
While the SDA’s operations were initially deemed a success following the 2024 European Parliament elections, internal Russian analysis showed that not all far-right victories were necessarily beneficial for Moscow. Despite the rise of right-wing parties in Europe, some of these leaders—like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni—continued to support Ukraine, defying Moscow’s expectations.
A post-election report from the SDA highlighted this dilemma, noting that while the success of far-right parties like the AfD and France’s National Rally was a win for Russian interests, other leaders posed challenges.
“Meloni’s stance on Ukraine has complicated our objectives,” one document admitted.
Global disinformation
The SDA’s disinformation efforts extended beyond Europe. In a particularly striking example, Russian operatives created fake reports of child abductions in Ukraine, which were eventually picked up by U.S. media outlets. One internal SDA communication proudly stated, “Our team fabricated a story about child abductions. Americans seriously published it.”
The documents also reveal how Russia exploited “useful idiots” in the West—figures who unwittingly promoted Kremlin-created narratives. U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was cited as an example of this, as she repeated unverified claims about U.S. military aid to Ukraine allegedly ending up in the hands of Hamas.
The SDA’s operations are global in scope. A DOJ affidavit indicated that the SDA had developed campaigns targeting U.S. foreign policy by manipulating ethnic and religious communities, particularly in Mexico and Israel. One leaked SDA document, titled “Normal Israel,” outlined a project aimed at swaying Israeli public opinion to break away from the broader Western anti-Russian stance.
Other campaigns focused on Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where Russian operatives aimed to destabilize pro-Western governments through public mobilization and disinformation. The Kremlin’s ultimate goal, according to the documents, was to neutralize any external pressure on these countries’ leaders, who might otherwise align more closely with the United States and Europe.
The SDA’s operations represent a sophisticated and far-reaching campaign to reshape global narratives in favor of Russian interests. By planting fake stories, manipulating elections, and fabricating public opinions, Russia is using modern digital tools to destabilize Western democracies and weaken support for Ukraine. The leaked documents shed light on just how pervasive and coordinated these efforts are, raising serious questions about the future of online political discourse and election security across the globe.
While far-right political movements in Europe remain fertile ground for Russian propaganda, the leaks also demonstrate that Moscow’s strategy can backfire, especially when far-right leaders refuse to follow Russia’s script. Nonetheless, the sheer scale of the SDA’s operations highlights the need for vigilance against disinformation in the digital age.
Information for this briefing was found via Vsquare and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
