Thank you!
We will contact you shortly
Hot fakes
The devil is in the details
Russian propaganda and fakes pose a threat to the whole world
Fakes and propaganda often imperceptibly penetrate the news feed and social networks, shaping people's thoughts, doubts, emotions. When this is repeated in a circle, a person inevitably becomes a carrier of the "information virus", regardless of position, status and profession. The only thing that can save her from this is to rely on facts and evidence. But it is important to determine their source.
Video
Watch the video about "Russian peace"
Big facts
It can also affect your life
A Russian influence network attempting to destabilise Argentina has been exposed
A group of russian citizens promoted kremlin interests in Argentina, spread disinformation, manipulated public opinion, and attempted to influence the activities of foundations and activists, according to La Derecha Diario: https://derechadiario.com.ar/us/argentina/government-launches-dfi-after-detecting-russian-interference-local-organizations Argentine intelligence (SIDE) has established that the key figures are lev andriashvili and
irina yakovenko, russian citizens residing in Argentina. They received funding from moscow and established ties with local pro-russian structures.
They are linked to the La Compañía organisation, which SIDE considers part of the global operation ‘Lakhta’, previously financed by the founder of the russian ‘Wagner private military company’ yevgeny prigozhin.Similar attempts by russian spies to infiltrate Argentina have been recorded before. We are talking about artem and anna dulcev, a family of illegal intelligence agents who lived in Argentina for several years and then moved with their children to Slovenia, where they were arrested on charges of espionage.
Russia is illegally transshipping oil in the open sea near Greece
Since July 2024, the Aframax tanker IMO9247443, without Western insurance, has been illegally transshipping oil between tankers in the open sea near the coast of Greece and Cyprus. This was reported by Ukrainian intelligence. Such operations pose an environmental threat, allow the aggressor to conceal the origin of the oil, evade international control and ensure its supply to third countries in circumvention of sanctions.The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine publishes data on the vessel IMO9247443 (https://war-sanctions.gur.gov.ua/) on the War&Sanctions platform, which the aggressor state russia uses as a floating transshipment
hub for the supply of sanctioned oil. In total, the War&Sanctions portal database contains data on 577 such oil tankers.At the same time, Norway has imposed sanctions on fishing companies for spying on behalf of russia.
Two russian companies, Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood, are involved in reconnaissance operations against underwater infrastructure in Norwegian and allied waters, said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.The restrictions include a ban on ships entering Norwegian ports and waters, denial of fishing licences in the economic zone, freezing of assets and a ban on financial transactions. This decision was made within the framework of the so-called ‘hybrid sanctions regime’ introduced in response to cyberattacks, sabotage and disinformation campaigns by russia.
In 2024, Russia increased imports of Chinese machine tools for the defence industry
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the russian company Almaz-Antey, which manufactures anti-aircraft weapons, and the largest russian manufacturer of tanks and armoured vehicles, Uralvagonzavod, use 37 pieces of foreign equipment."In 2024, after the sanctions were tightened, the supply of Western machine tools became more difficult, so russians are increasing their imports of equipment from China. Chinese machines are equipped with German and Japanese numerical control systems - Siemens, Heidenhain, Fanuc. The main reason is that the russians have experience with Western systems, and most part design software is designed for them," Ukrainian intelligence reports.
China has become the main driver of the Russian war machine.Beijing is no longer just a ‘third party.’ It supplies russia with critical components for weapons — from microchips to industrial machine tools, writes The Economist: https://www.economist.com/china/2025/06/19/china-has-become-the-most-important-enabler-of-russias-war-machine
The Shahed combat drones that attack Ukraine every day (between 50 and 500 per day) use Chinese antennas, GPS modules and chips. Chinese engineers are also present at russian factories and help to integrate the systems directly on site.
Deliveries of artillery shells and military UAVs have been recorded. These are no longer just ‘dual-use’ goods — Beijing is moving closer and closer to direct military assistance. In addition, China is actively helping russia circumvent sanctions, developing joint weapons production, and supporting the kremlin's defence industry technologically and economically.In fact, it can be concluded that China is deliberately supporting russia's ability to wage war and kill civilians in Ukraine.
Russia intensifies hybrid attacks on the Netherlands
The Netherlands reported a cyberattack on its civil service. According to the director of the Netherlands Military Intelligence Directorate, Peter Reissink, russia attempted a cyberattack on the Dutch civil service to seize control of the system. The attack was repelled, but it is an alarming precedent, Reuters reports.Intelligence also detected an attempt to interfere with critical infrastructure, probably in preparation for future sabotage. russian hybrid threats include: cyber attacks; physical sabotage of critical facilities; disinformation campaigns; espionage.Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-is-upping-hybrid-attacks-against-europe-dutch-intelligence-says-2025-04-22/
On the eve of the NATO summit, pro-russian hackers from the NoName057(16) group attacked an online platform used by municipalities and provinces to publish official documents, De Telegraaf reports: https://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/pro-russische-hackers-claimen-ddos-aanval-sites-nederlandse-gemeenten-en-provincies-slecht-bereikbaar/73241912.html
Due to the attack, access to municipal websites, including The Hague, has become unstable, with system overload and periodic page unavailability reported. The group uses the DDOSIA tool, which generates thousands of requests to target sites in order to paralyse their operation. The attack is coordinated via Telegram, and the tools themselves are stored on GitHub for anonymity.
It should be noted that this is not the first time NoName057(16) has attacked the infrastructure of countries supporting Ukraine. Previously, they targeted Italian banks and transport companies.
Russia forces migrants from Africa to sign contracts to fight in the war against Ukraine
Africans are being lured to moscow with fake job advertisements, particularly for shampoo production, writes The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/09/russia-sent-african-shampoo-makers-die-ukraine-front-line/ According to the article, Jean Onana from Cameroon came to moscow after seeing an advertisement for a job at a factory, but along
with other migrants from Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Ghana, he was told that there would be no job – only a contract with the russian army and deployment to the front.
According to Onana, the russian military tactic of ‘meat assaults’ is destroying hundreds of African recruits – of the nine people who signed the contract with him, he is the only one who survived. He lay in a trench for six days until he was captured by the Ukrainians.There are dozens of posts on Cameroonian social media about people missing in russia, and some relatives are posting photos of their loved ones in military uniform and asking for help. About 67 Cameroonians have already been counted among the dead.
Meanwhile, pro-russian trolls have flooded Facebook, X and TikTok in Mali. According to Le Monde, aggressive methods are being used: hostile comments, insults and personal attacks on anyone who questions the rule of the junta, which came to power after a coup supported by russian mercenaries from Wagner:https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2025/05/30/au-mali-les-confidences-de-petites-mains-d-une-ferme-a-trolls-du-pouvoir_6609355_3212. html
The phenomenon has reached unprecedented proportions since russia's emergence in the region and its break with the West, led by France. In addition to anonymous trolls, new types of influencers have appeared on social media, followed by hundreds of thousands of subscribers.
They are called ‘videomen’ and act as unofficial mouthpieces for the regime, exaggerating its achievements, stirring up anti-Western sentiment and tirelessly promoting russian propaganda in Mali. They report directly to the current government and receive funding from the administration of Malian leader General Assimi Goita.
How are hackers from Russia, China, and Iran using ChatGPT?
OpenAI has published a report on the misuse of AI by the above-mentioned countries: https://openai.com/global-affairs/disrupting-malicious-uses-of-ai-june-2025/ For example, a russian group called ScopeCreep was found to have created hundreds of accounts on ChatGPT, using each one only once to gradually improve Windows software. This program was then disguised as Crosshair X, a program popular among gamers.
The infected version could take full control of the victim's computer, disable Windows Defender protection, and transfer stolen data to a private Telegram channel.
Numerous Chinese accounts were also discovered that were mass-generating posts for social networks in English and Chinese. Most of the posts were about US politics and the Trump administration's actions. In addition, Chinese hackers used AI to:● control security systems on Linux OS,● create Android apps to control devices,● automate mass actions on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X,● developing scripts for password selection and attacks.As for Iranian hackers, they generated comments in ChatGPT for social media in support of Palestine and the Iranian army.
Russia is deceiving foreigners into assembling drones to kill Ukrainians
The russians have launched an advertising campaign offering employment to citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and other countries in the alabuga economic zone. They promise career growth, high salaries and interesting work. In reality, workers are involved in the assembly of Iranian military drones Shahed-136. People sign contracts, and when they find out what kind of work is actually offered, they try to refuse.
But those who refuse are intimidated and blackmailed. Some are subjected to physical violence. There are also cases where people's documents are taken away.
Mostly young people (under the age of 22) looking for a promising job are recruited for this work. More information about the scheme can be found in an investigation by the Azerbaijani TV channel Baku TV.But the geography of the search for ‘talent’ is actually much wider. The Russians also invite Latin Americans and even women from Africa to assemble weapons for murder. There is a story about this on The African Report: https://www.theafricareport.com/364458/how-russia-recruits-african-women-for-its-war-effort/
Chinese-controlled hackers carried out a cyberattack on critical infrastructure in the Czech Republic
The Czech government has stated that APT31 is responsible for the cyberattack on one of the unclassified networks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This cyber group has been conducting its malicious activities since 2022, and its criminal actions have affected the work of a diplomatic institution that has the status of a critical facility. The hackers also have public ties to the Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China.
Unfortunately, there are more and more cases of cyber attacks on democratic countries by hackers controlled by China.
Russian intelligence gained access to surveillance cameras in four European countries
They did this to monitor aid to Ukraine, writes The Guardian. We're talking about around 1,000 hacked cameras, mostly located near borders, ports, railway stations, and military facilities. russian intelligence used them to monitor military and humanitarian aid coming into Ukraine. The investigation, led by the United States and several European allies, also revealed significant shortcomings due to the widespread use of Chinese-made cameras, even in Romanian government institutions.
Hacked surveillance cameras were found in Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, which also border Ukraine.Reuters also reported, citing a statement by Dutch intelligence, that russian cybercriminals attacked NATO and EU networks to steal data on arms supplies to Ukraine.
The activity of the Laundry Bear hackers behind this cyberattack was first detected in September 2024. At that time, they attacked confidential databases of the Dutch police and gained access to them: https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-backed-group-hacked-into-networks-police-nato-say-dutch-authorities-2025-05-27/ In addition, Laundry Bear is responsible for cyber operations against Western governments and other institutions. Dutch intelligence adds that this group actively sought to obtain data on the procurement and manufacture of military equipment and weapons for Ukraine and attacked companies producing high-tech products to which russia does not have access due to sanctions.
RT Academy - a propaganda factory under the guise of ‘education’
According to Spravdi.ua, kremlin propagandists are launching ‘international journalism’ courses for students from Africa, Asia, China and India. Formally, this is training, but in fact it is the selection of new kremlin propagandists in the world.That is, the real goal is not skills, but influence. Instead of ethics, it's methodologies. Instead of freedom of speech, they give ‘instructions on how to talk about NATO, Ukraine and the West’.
The teachers are experienced propagandists of the RT media holding, who have been lying about Ukraine, the EU, the US, and NATO for years, as well as justifying the kremlin's crimes and masking its genocidal policy.
The academy is scheduled to open four new classes by the end of the year. To date, 2000 ‘graduates’ have been taught russian propaganda. RT establishes cooperation with universities, embassies, BRICS pseudo-educational programmes and employs its ‘graduates’ in local media around the world. The kremlin spares no expense in this regard: 79 billion rubles to RT from 2025 to 2027. In what other country is this possible? RT Academy is a tool for building a global disinformation network to influence social and political life in individual countries and regions. RT Media Holding is under US and EU sanctions.
Russian intelligence services are increasingly relying on ‘disposable agents’
It is becoming more difficult for the russians to embed their own agents in Germany, so moscow has recently been using agents recruited through social media for individual operations more often. This was stated by the deputy head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Germany (BfV), Zinan Zelen.According to him, such recruits are called ‘low-level agents’ or ‘disposables’. They recruit primarily those who have attracted attention with pro-russian statements on social media.
They are paid for sabotage, disinformation or espionage.At the same time, European intelligence services have been noting a significant increase in the activity of russian special services for many years, Zelen said.
"Germany is in the centre of special attention", he warned. According to him, russia's intelligence services pose a long-term threat to Europe, regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine.It is worth noting that ‘disposable agents’ are offered high ‘fees’ for simple operations such as espionage, sabotage, arson, explosives, installation of GPS trackers, etc. This phenomenon is particularly common in Ukraine, as well as in Poland and Moldova. People of low social status or drug addicts are easy to recruit, but as a rule, immediately after completing the task, russian special services try to eliminate them to hide their involvement.
The Kremlin denies the existence of Lithuanians as a separate nation
russian Foreign Minister lavrov has authored a foreword to the monograph ‘History of Lithuania’, which denies the existence of the language and statehood of this Baltic country. Among the authors of the book is Gedrius Grabauskas, a former associate of Lithuanian politician Algirdas Paletskis, who was convicted of spying for russia.The head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, called the monograph a tool of russian propaganda and compared
the book's ideas to the rhetoric that accompanied russia's invasion of Ukraine.Back then, putin published an article denying the existence of Ukrainians as a separate nation.
Kęstutis Budris said that this book was created as an instrument of hostile activity against neighbouring countries. It questions Lithuania's statehood, history, values, and symbols, and justifies the imperialism and aggression of the russian Federation against its neighbours: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2550706/russia-publishes-book-on-lithuanian-history-preface-written-by-lavrovProfessor Gintautas Mazeikis of Vytautas the Great University believes that ‘denying the existence of Lithuania is very similar to denying Ukrainians as a nation’: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2550706/russia-publishes-book-on-lithuanian-history-preface-written-by-lavrov
Russian military intelligence has been attacking French institutions for 10 years
France has accused russian military intelligence of a series of cyberattacks over the past decade against public and private institutions, as well as organisations involved in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This was reported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs with reference to a report by the national cybersecurity agency ANSSI.According to the French side, the hacker group APT28, associated with the General Staff of the russian Army, is behind the attacks.Among the recorded cases:
- an attack on the TV5 Monde television network in 2015;- an attempt to interfere in the 2017 elections, which were won by Emmanuel Macron;- a series of attacks since 2021 on a dozen institutions, including organisations related to the preparation for the Olympics.
The French government stressed that APT28 also constantly attacks Ukrainian infrastructure as part of russia's hybrid war against Ukraine, as well as conducts sabotage activities across Europe.The French agency for combating foreign digital interference, Viginum, has identified about 80 disinformation operations in favour of russia between August 2023 and early March 2025.The targets of these operations were the governments of Ukraine and European countries that support russia. The report particularly highlights the Storm-1516 disinformation campaign, which sought to influence the parliamentary elections held last year.
Disinformation operations against Italy have become a priority for the Kremlin
Italy has become a primary target of russia’s hybrid warfare due to its steadfast support for Ukraine and its alignment with NATO and the transatlantic relationship.
This has placed Italy in moscow’s crosshairs, leading to a multi-pronged russian strategy to undermine Rome’s interests through information warfare, cyberattacks, political subversion, and strategic maneuvering in Africa.Read the full article here.
Russia recruits Chinese for war through TikTok ads
The russian Ministry of Defence is recruiting Chinese citizens to join a private army to fight in the war against Ukraine through various platforms, including bloggers and ads on TikTok and other social media. This was stated by Chinese prisoners of war during a press conference.
These citizens of the People's Republic of China were taken prisoner by the Ukrainian Defence Forces. Now they are calling on official Beijing to facilitate their exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held by russia.
"To our fellow Chinese citizens who want to take part in this war, we want to say that they should not do so. Because everything we heard from the russians was a lie. And it turned out that russia is not that strong, and Ukraine is not that weak. And that's why it's better not to participate in wars at all," said Wang Guangjun, a prisoner of war.
According to both foreigners, they signed the contracts, tempted by the large one-time cash reward and subsequent monthly payments of about $2,500, but never received them. After staying on the contact line for three days, they surrendered to Ukrainians, who provided them with normal conditions. The Security Service of Ukraine is currently conducting investigations to establish all the circumstances of the Chinese citizens' participation in the war and is checking the testimony of these prisoners. So, the Chinese government is allowing russia to recruit its citizens for a war that they condemn and have even offered their own ‘peace plan’. What's next? Secret transfer of military weapons?
North Korea places its agents in European IT companies
According to The Independent, north korea, currently russia's main ally in the war against Ukraine, is increasingly placing its agents to work remotely in European IT companies. And for cover, they often pose as... Ukrainians.north korean agents posing as legitimate remote IT workers are increasingly infiltrating companies in Europe to investigate European cybersecurity.
While the United States remains the primary target of these north korean spies, their growing activities in multiple countries are creating a global threat, the Google Grows Intelligence Group (GTIG) warned in a report.The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) group is also using an evolving tactic, such as increased extortion, to place its agents inside organisations, the researchers said. Read the full article here:https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/north-korea-spy-europe-it-jobs-b2725924.html
How India works for the Kremlin's war machine
The international intelligence community InformNapalm, in cooperation with the Ukrainian hacker group 256 Cyber Storm, investigated, exposed the scheme and disrupted the supply of critical sanctioned equipment to the russian military-industrial complex. It turned out that the sanctions circumvention scheme was organised by the russian company EMT, which ordered European sanctioned equipment through the Indian company Park Controls & Communications and paid for the order in rupees through Sberbank India.
The Indian side entered into a criminal conspiracy with the russians and tried to deceive the European manufacturer, claiming that India was the end user and that the goods were not transferred to russia.
At the same time, the Indians sent the russians not only the sanctioned equipment and software keys to it, but also duplicated all their correspondence with European manufacturers. Nevertheless, thanks to the documents obtained by the intelligence officers, it was possible to conduct a special operation and disrupt any further use of European equipment worth millions of euros by the russians, as well as block further supplies through a channel that the russians considered very convenient and reliable. The results of the investigation are available here: https://informnapalm.org/en/cyberstorm-256/
Russia and China join forces to spread disinformation and manipulation
According to the report, russia and China continue refining their manipulation tactics, with Beijing expanding its global media footprint while concealing involvement through proxies. Though operating independently, their narratives notably converged in blaming NATO for ‘escalation’.Both increasingly deploy AI tools and elaborate deception networks that function like icebergs – visible state channels above water, vast covert networks beneath.
The full report on the EEAS website offers more insights into these fast-evolving threats.
The latest EEAS report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) threats maps out the digital infrastructure deployed by foreign actors, mainly by russia, but also by China, to manipulate and interfere in the information space of the EU and partner countries with the objective to spread disinformation, to erode trust and undermine democratic societies. This map shows how attributed channels are only the tip of the iceberg of FIMI activities as they rely with extensive covert networks of channels with hidden connections, such as Doppelganger, African Initiative, Portal Kombat or False Façade. Details here.
North Korea Creates New Unit for AI Cyber Attacks
The Research Center 227 cyber group will operate under the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) intelligence agency and focus on developing ‘offensive hacking technologies and data theft programs,’ TechCrunch reports.In addition, this unit will study Western cybersecurity systems and computer networks to steal digital assets, develop AI-based methods to steal information, and coordinate with other north korean hacker groups abroad.
It is noted that north korean hackers have recently been actively attacking cryptocurrency exchanges and companies around the world. The FBI and the US National Security Agency have repeatedly accused the DPRK's intelligence agencies of cyberattacks and espionage. north korea has been a strategic partner of russia since 2023: It has been supplying the putin regime with weapons and taking part in military operations against Ukraine. Obviously, cyber espionage is also an important area of cooperation between the two dictatorial states.
Russian intelligence services behind arson attacks on shopping centres in Vilnius and Warsaw
A Lithuanian investigation has found that the man who set fire to an IKEA store in Vilnius on 9 May 2024 was acting on behalf of russian special services. Before that, he visited Warsaw, where he and his accomplice agreed to arrange arson attacks on shopping centres in Lithuania and Latvia. The price was €10,000 and a used BMW.
The fire in the Warsaw shopping centre is also linked to russian special services.
This information was confirmed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. russian specservices are increasingly recruiting young people looking for easy money on the Internet, offering them substantial rewards for various subversive activities. In Ukraine, for example, there have been more than a hundred such cases. Very often, these are orders to manufacture and plant explosives in public places. These cases are further proof that the kremlin is waging bloody terror not only against Ukraine but also against the whole of Europe.
Russians involve children in weapons production and torture prisoners
Students of Simferopol's (occupied Crimea) school No. 5 are being forced to make parts for russian UAVs and chargers for assault rifles.
The whole process takes place under the supervision of military instructors, and the products are handed over to the occupation army units, the National Resistance Centre reported.
The russian invaders present this gross violation of international humanitarian law as a ‘volunteer initiative’.
The Wall Street Journal published a large article about the torture of Ukrainians in russian prisons, citing three former federal penitentiary officials: https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-prisons-ukranian-pow-torture-52df7908
The main conclusion of the article is that torture is not an excess of local executors, but an official policy of the russian authorities.
russian torturers subjected Ukrainian prisoners to torture using stun guns attached to their genitals, beating them with rubber sticks and boiler pipes.
The russians deliberately beat prisoners of war in the same place day after day, preventing injuries from healing and causing infection inside the bruises. Prisoners were denied medical care, and many of them developed gangrene, leading to amputations.
Read more about the crimes of the russians here: https://war.ukraine.ua/russia-war-crimes/ or here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes_in_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine
russia has created a new spy unit for sabotage in europe
The new unit, known to Western intelligence agencies as the Special Tasks Department (SSD), is based at the russian military intelligence headquarters on the outskirts of moscow, The Wall Street Journal reports: https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/russia-spy-covert-attacks-8199e376
According to Western intelligence services, it was created in 2023 in response to Western support for Ukraine. "russia believes that it is in conflict with what it calls the ‘collective West’ and is acting accordingly, including threatening us with nuclear weapons and increasing its army", James Appathurai, NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Hybrid Warfare, told the newspaper.
Sandworm hackers from RF target organisations in the US and EU
They use several methods to compromise victims' online infrastructure and gain access to critical sectors, Microsoft analysts say: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/02/12/the-badpilot-campaign-seashell-blizzard-subgroup-conducts-multiyear-global-access-operation/
These include energy, oil and gas, telecommunications, shipping, weapons production, and international government projects. According to analysts, russian cybercriminals initially focused on attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure, but in 2023, the BadPilot campaign, a subgroup of Sandworm, achieved permanent access to ‘numerous’ high-value sectors in the US, EU, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Do you want to be the first to receive fresh materials russianfake.com?
Already more than 3500 monthly readers. Join in.