The Invisible Battlefield: Unmasking Russia’s "Storm-1516" Disinformation Campaign Targeting Ukraine and the West

The war in Ukraine is no longer confined to geographical borders. It extends into the digital realm, where information becomes a weapon and public opinion a battleground. French authorities have uncovered an extensive disinformation campaign, codenamed "Storm-1516," orchestrated by Russian actors between late August 2023 and early March 2025. This campaign meticulously targeted the Ukrainian government and its Western allies, including France, aiming to undermine support for Kyiv and sow discord within Western societies.

Viginum, the French agency dedicated to combating foreign digital interference, meticulously investigated Storm-1516, revealing its sophisticated tactics and far-reaching impact. The agency’s findings paint a disturbing picture of how Russia is leveraging digital platforms to manipulate public discourse and advance its geopolitical objectives.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the campaign, stating that the European public debate is being "pounded by disinformation campaigns" carried out by Russian actors and amplified by figures, particularly on the American extreme right. He emphasized the specific targeting of France’s 2024 snap legislative elections by Storm-1516, urging platforms to take immediate action to combat these interferences. Barrot underscored the importance of vigilance against these foreign digital intrusions.

Viginum’s report, to be published Wednesday morning, emphasizes the campaign’s sophisticated, adaptable, and effective methods for disseminating anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western narratives to Western audiences. The agency considers this campaign a "significant threat" to the digital public debate, both in France and across Europe.

A diplomatic source decried the Kremlin’s ongoing "informational warfare" against the West. Storm-1516, they assert, is "new proof of the bad faith" of Moscow and its "unwillingness to stop escalation."

Storm-1516 distinguishes itself through its innovative use of artificial intelligence to create fabricated personas and the recruitment of amateur actors for remuneration. Viginum also highlights the role of pro-MAGA American influencers and pro-Russian influencers, such as French national Adrien Bocquet, a former soldier exiled in Russia, in amplifying the spread of false information. This network of influencers acts as an echo chamber, amplifying disinformation and reaching a wider audience.

Furthermore, the campaign employs a tactic of "laundering" content through African media outlets, adding a layer of credibility and obfuscating the origin of the disinformation. This sophisticated approach makes it harder to trace the source and harder for audiences to recognize the manipulation.

The primary target of Storm-1516 is the Ukrainian government, with the apparent goal of undermining Western support for Kyiv. The campaign seeks to exploit existing anxieties and prejudices, creating narratives that cast doubt on the legitimacy and integrity of the Ukrainian leadership.

Specific examples of disinformation include false claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy purchased a former Nazi building in Bavaria and a luxury hotel in Courchevel. These specific claims, and numerous others, have been debunked by AFP Factuel, the digital investigation service of Agence France-Presse (AFP), with their fact-checking articles readily available on the website factuel.afp.com. This active fact-checking is a crucial countermeasure, but the speed and volume of disinformation require constant vigilance and resources.

Viginum highlights that Ukraine’s Western allies, particularly France, are also targets of the campaign, as demonstrated in a recent report by NewsGuard. The disinformation watchdog attributed a video depicting a Chadian migrant confessing to the rape of a 12-year-old girl in France, as well as an AI-generated video accusing Brigitte Macron of sexual assault, to Storm-1516. These examples demonstrate the campaign’s willingness to exploit sensitive social issues and weaponize public anxieties to destabilize Western societies.

The revelation of Storm-1516 underscores the urgent need for a coordinated response to combat foreign disinformation campaigns. Platforms must actively monitor and remove disinformation, and governments must work together to expose and disrupt these operations.

Furthermore, media literacy is critical. Citizens must be equipped with the skills to critically evaluate information and distinguish between credible sources and disinformation. Education initiatives and public awareness campaigns can play a vital role in empowering individuals to navigate the complex information landscape.

The digital battlefield is constantly evolving, and the fight against disinformation requires continuous adaptation and innovation. By understanding the tactics used by actors like Storm-1516 and by working together, we can protect our democracies from the corrosive effects of foreign interference. The rise of AI makes the situation even more complex, demanding further research and protective measures.

The Storm-1516 operation illustrates the extent to which Russia is willing to go to undermine support for Ukraine and destabilize the West. The use of AI to create fake content, the exploitation of social media platforms to spread disinformation, and the targeting of specific audiences with tailored narratives all highlight the sophistication and adaptability of this campaign. It also highlights the insidious nature of information warfare, where the lines between truth and falsehood become increasingly blurred, and the consequences can be far-reaching and devastating. The exposure of this campaign serves as a stark warning about the challenges we face in defending our democracies in the digital age.