In the first weeks of September, leaks of Russian disinformation campaign documents revealed the extensive scale and sophistication of these active measures. Moreover, the FBI‘s court filings disclosed a trove of 277 pages detailing Russian efforts to manipulate Western public opinion. These operations particularly targeted Europe and the U.S.
Furthermore, the Social Design Agency (SDA), a key player in these operations, reportedly generated 33.9 million comments and created nearly 40,000 content pieces. These include videos and memes, in just the first four months of 2024.
This vast output aimed to sway public sentiment against Ukraine and disrupt European unity. Additionally, the documents also outline quotas for disinformation content, such as 60 cartoons and 180 memes for specific campaigns targeting Germany and France. These revelations enable a first evaluation of the effectiveness of Russian disinformation strategies in Europe, highlighting both their reach and the challenges posed to democratic societies.
Key Judgement 1. It is highly likely that Russian disinformation campaigns supported the electoral success of far-right parties like the AfD in Germany and the PVV in the Netherlands.
Key Judgement 2. It is likely that the disinformation campaigns contributed to increased anti-war sentiment in Europe.
Key Judgement 3. It is highly likely that the disinformation efforts which tried to undermine trust in NATO amongst European citizens failed.
