France Condemns Russia's Online Manipulation Campaign Against Ukraine

• France condemns Russia's online manipulation campaign against Ukraine.

• 193 websites set up by Russia to spread disinformation.

• Russia seeks to destroy Europe's unity and manipulate information.

French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Stephane Sejourne, center, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, left, and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski attend a press conference after t

AP

France has strongly condemned what it calls 'hostile' disinformation maneuvers carried out by Russia. Authorities in France have accused Russia of operating an extensive online manipulation campaign against Ukraine's Western backers in the lead up to the second anniversary of Moscow's military invasion of its neighbor.

The French foreign ministry issued a statement affirming its unwavering support for Ukraine, stating that 'no manipulation attempt will distract France from its support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression.' French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, speaking alongside his German and Polish counterparts after a meeting near Paris involving Ukraine-related talks, revealed that a network of 'at least 193' websites had been set up with the aim of spreading Russian disinformation.

Minister Séjourné highlighted Russia's tactics of seeking to 'destroy Europe's unity' and manipulate information, blurring the lines between real and fake news. A report released by the French agency responsible for fighting foreign digital interference, Viginum, shed light on the extensive network codenamed 'Portal Kombat' which was analyzed between September and December of 2023.

The report revealed that the network, which involves websites using the name 'pravda,' targeted countries including France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The content shared on these websites was found to repeatedly present inaccurate or misleading narratives. The disinformation campaign also extended to social media platforms such as Telegram, utilizing massive content sharing automation.

French foreign ministry officials stressed the gravity of Russia's efforts to manipulate information and spread deception, particularly focusing on their targeting of Ukraine's allies in the West. They cited messages on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and websites like Sputnik as being 'massive in scope' and 'complex in structure.'

The primary objective of Russia's disinformation campaign, according to officials, remains to amplify its perceived success in the Ukraine war, justify its invasion, discredit and undermine Ukraine's military resistance, weaken civilian resilience in the face of daily attacks, and fracture Western support for Ukraine's military efforts, potentially hampering the supply of weapons to Kyiv.

However, the campaign extends beyond the war in Ukraine. French officials believe Russia is seeking to confuse and scare voters during a year of high-stakes elections in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States. Additionally, they assert that Russia aims to disrupt mega sporting events such as the upcoming Paris Olympics and the European soccer championship in Germany.

The French foreign ministry also accused Russia of being behind the stenciling of Jewish stars on walls in Paris and its suburbs last November, raising concerns about the safety of France's Jewish community, the largest in Europe.

This is not the first time France has been targeted by Russian disinformation. Last month, French defense officials revealed that France had been subject to a Russian disinformation campaign following President Emmanuel Macron's reaffirmation of support for Ukraine. Viginum, which has been monitoring the alleged operation since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, traced the campaign back to Russian individuals, companies, and entities affiliated with the Russian state.

To combat these disinformation campaigns, Viginum has taken action, including intervening with 'protective and preventive measures.' France remains committed to countering Russian disinformation tactics and standing firmly alongside Ukraine and its Western allies.

As the threat of disinformation continues to loom, countries like France are actively working to safeguard the integrity of their democratic processes and protect their societies from the manipulation of information.