Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets France Ahead of 2026 Elections

Russian Disinformation Campaign Intensifies Across France with Over 200 Fake Media Sites

France is experiencing a surge in Russian disinformation activity, with security experts identifying more than 200 new fraudulent media websites designed to manipulate public opinion. According to a report from Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, over 140 of these sites are specifically impersonating established French news outlets.

These fake websites deliberately distort legitimate news content to promote pro-Kremlin narratives, creating a sophisticated web of misinformation targeting French citizens. The deceptive approach allows fabricated stories to gain credibility by appearing to come from trusted sources.

Intelligence officials have linked this coordinated campaign to an operation codenamed “Storm-1516,” also known as “Doppelgänger” or “The Double.” John Mark Dugan, described as one of the Kremlin’s principal propaganda operators in Europe, is reportedly coordinating these efforts. Authorities have also identified a parallel network called “CopyCop” with connections to the same operator.

The disinformation strategy relies on artificial intelligence to generate thousands of articles that convincingly mimic the style and presentation of legitimate French news sources. This sophisticated approach enables false information to rapidly penetrate public discourse and shape opinion without immediate detection. Security analysts have observed a marked increase in publications from this network since early autumn.

“The Kremlin’s objective is clear – they want to undermine trust in France’s institutions and discredit President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the 2026 municipal elections,” said a spokesperson from the Center for Countering Disinformation. “This represents a direct attempt to influence democratic processes through information warfare.”

The campaign appears particularly focused on promoting narratives advocating “peace at any price” regarding international conflicts, while simultaneously creating content designed to demoralize French society. This approach aligns with broader Russian information operation patterns observed across Europe.

The scale and sophistication of these operations highlight growing concerns about the vulnerability of democratic processes to foreign interference. European security experts warn that without significant upgrades to cyber defense capabilities and comprehensive media literacy programs, democratic institutions remain at risk of manipulation through targeted information campaigns.

This escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, with information warfare becoming an increasingly prominent aspect of geopolitical strategy. The Center reports that more than half of Europeans now believe armed conflict with Russia could erupt in the coming years, indicating that disinformation campaigns may be successfully heightening public anxiety.

France has previously confronted Russian disinformation efforts, particularly during election cycles. However, the current campaign represents a significant escalation in both scale and technical sophistication. The use of artificial intelligence to generate convincing fake content marks a concerning evolution in these tactics.

European Union officials are reportedly treating this as an urgent security concern, with calls for coordinated action across member states to detect and counter such operations. Media analysts suggest that traditional fact-checking measures may be insufficient against this advanced form of information warfare.

As digital platforms continue to serve as primary news sources for many citizens, the ability to differentiate between legitimate reporting and sophisticated fabrications becomes increasingly challenging. Security experts emphasize that protecting information integrity now requires collaboration between government agencies, technology companies, media organizations, and an informed public.

The discovery of this extensive disinformation network underscores the evolving nature of security threats in the digital age, where battles for influence are increasingly fought through keyboards rather than conventional weapons.