Kathrine Frich
These fake accounts is designed to look like real people.
These fake accounts is designed to look like real people.
Flooded Ukrainian Social Media
A wave of pro-Russian bots has flooded Ukrainian social media groups in Russian-occupied territories, spreading thousands of coordinated comments designed to undermine Ukraine and boost support for Vladimir Putin, according to a new report.
Digital Deception Campaign Uncovered
The bot campaign was revealed in a joint report by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab and tech firm OpenMinds.
Researchers say it’s part of a broader effort to “digitally occupy” Ukraine and manipulate public opinion where Russia controls territory.
Spam, Praise, and Propaganda
These fake accounts is designed to look like real people.
They target popular Telegram channels used by Ukrainians to stay informed.
The bots post repetitive, pro-Russian messages while attacking Ukraine’s leadership, flooding conversations with carefully curated propaganda.
Bots Mimic Real Users
According to the report, the bots often use random or nonsensical names and don’t interact meaningfully with other users.
Many seem to be powered by AI, generating comments that lack logic but reinforce a consistent message: Russia is strong, Ukraine is failing.
Creating False Consensus
The goal is to manufacture the illusion that pro-Russian sentiment is widespread.
As the report puts it:
“A large volume of comments expressing a particular point of view can create the impression that it represents the majority opinion in a community.”
Putin Gets Thousands of Shout-Outs
Among the bots’ most common themes is a glowing support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
His name appeared over 5,000 times, with messages calling him a peaceful leader and praising Russia’s so-called “strength and success” in the war.
Zelensky Targeted with Thousands of Smears
The real target of the bots, however, is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Analysts counted more than 48,000 comments attacking him directly, accusing him of corruption, drug use, tyranny, and illegitimacy in a sweeping smear campaign.
Criticism of Ukraine’s Government Floods Telegram
Beyond Zelensky, bots also targeted Ukraine’s military and government institutions. They racked up over 13,000 negative comments.
Messages accused Kyiv of failure on the battlefield and painted Ukrainian leadership as weak, chaotic, and untrustworthy.
The West in the Crosshairs Too
The bots also spread anti-Western rhetoric.
Nearly 12,000 comments focused on criticizing NATO, the EU, and Western countries, suggesting they were exploiting Ukraine or escalating the war for their own gain.
Propaganda as a Weapon of War
Analysts warn that this digital offensive could influence how people in occupied regions view Russia’s presence, and even shape future peace negotiations.
The more these voices dominate online spaces, the easier it becomes to justify continued Russian control.
