“Disinformation is another weapon in the Kremlin’s war arsenal,” explains a security official. He comments on a report analyzed by the European Union that addresses disinformation incidents at a meeting held from October to December 2022 in the La Moncloa Complex. The gathering also included coverage from CASO ABIERTO, the investigation and events channel of Prensa Ibérica.
The issue is far more complex than a simple hoax. Many events connect to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the European Union’s response. Data from the EU report shows that in about 83 percent of cases the Russian ecosystem either creates or amplifies narratives that spread across social networks. In another 13 percent of cases, participants described as Chinese actors are involved, according to the FIMI report (Foreign Influence and Manipulation in English).
The report also highlights that hundreds of misinformation incidents target high-profile figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders within the European Union. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, is noted among the individuals affected by content that is false or harmful and deliberately coordinated to mislead the public.
Intelligence services are described as using these campaigns to drive a vast diffusion network across 30 languages, including 16 of the official EU languages. About 40 percent of the analyzed disinformation incidents are attributed to actors tied to the China-Russia media ecosystem, with funding or direct participation from state actors, or coordinated accounts.
Humor and hate are common tactics, often featuring false or manipulated narratives that inflame tensions against politicians or regions. One example explains how grain shortages were alleged to be caused by EU sanctions on Russia, when in reality grains were not included in those sanctions.
In some cases, misinformation aims to shape audience perception through satire or parody. One EU report documents six episodes of impersonation, where satirical outlets were replaced and their covers reworked to critique Zelensky, prompting one Spanish satirical magazine to be targeted in November.
The External Action Service of the EU notes a fake cover linked to a November 2022 incident that circulated a drawing portraying sailors in New York and labeling Zelensky as a Ukrainian youth. A derogatory tone, described as a “Black Hole” metaphor, appeared in discussions within gay communities.
A notable instance involved a Thursday edition that presented a fake cover claiming Zelensky was depicted in a sensational manner. A Spanish magazine cover allegedly used for this purpose is described by the author, with similar content also appearing in Russian and Western media. The spread of such disinformation is not limited to a single source but is a pattern seen across various channels.
EU disinformation reports also reference impersonations of Euronews and Al Jazeera. Some videos attributed to these outlets featured Ukrainian followers who were falsely labeled as Nazis and described as arrested in Doha during the World Cup. Investigations into media impersonations indicate that a Russian channel was among the early spreaders of misinformation from Euronews. In other instances, content appears to be assembled and disseminated through channels linked to Russian state structures, even when not officially connected to Russia.
A comical image misattributed to Zelensky, claimed to show him at a gay pride parade in New York, circulated widely amid attempts to link him to Western LGBTQ+ events. Similar hoaxes affected French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and the English-language Titanic, with a storyline around Zelensky that parodied or distorted real events.
A simplification in the narrative is the claim that a fake Charlie Hebdo cover depicted Zelensky stealing from Bethlehem, a story spread by certain Russian media. This illustrates how false covers and manipulative imagery can influence public opinion through recognizable brands and cultural moments.
The EU report also notes that Euronews and Al Jazeera were among the outlets implicated in impersonation schemes. One video stemming from these channels purportedly showed Ukrainian supporters described as Nazis, a claim that provoked arrests in Doha during the World Cup. Investigations into these incidents show that some media impersonations originated with a Russian channel, while others were disseminated through channels not directly tied to Russia but quickly assembled to appear connected to state actors.
An accompanying image and accompanying captions highlight how deceptive content can take root, even when the evidence is weak or distorted. The EU observes that countering deception remains easier than countering misinformation spread by rapid, coordinated networks.
Beatriz Marin data, a figure cited in EU external affairs circles, notes that Russian embassies worldwide created Telegram channels to spread false and manipulated information. This underscores the global reach of disinformation campaigns and the importance of vigilant media literacy across regions.
General Ballesteros, head of the Department of Homeland Security, warned that Russia has an interest in influencing elections in Spain, similar to perceptions around Brexit and the United States elections. The expert and the general both stress that combating disinformation is complex and that incorrect or manipulated information travels faster through networks than the truth.