Doppelganger: A Russian Disinformation Campaign

Doppelganger is the codename for a Russian disinformation campaign that began in 2022, targeting Ukraine, Germany, France, and the United States. Its primary objective is to undermine Western support for Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion of the country.

Objectives and Themes

The campaign’s main goal is to reinforce the Kremlin’s narrative and weaken Western support for Ukraine. It pushes four primary themes:

1. Sanctions against Russia are ineffective.
2. Western nations harbor Russophobic sentiments.
3. The Ukrainian military is barbaric and composed of neo-Nazis.
4. Ukrainian refugees are a burden on European countries.

Additionally, Doppelganger aims for its propaganda to be quoted and disseminated by Russian media, thus feeding into the alternative reality that Russian authorities seek to maintain about the war in Ukraine.

Historical Context

Doppelganger has been operational since May 2022. The campaign was exposed by EU DisinfoLab in September of the same year. The uncovering of Doppelganger’s activities shed light on the sophisticated tactics employed in this disinformation effort.

Methods of Disinformation

Doppelganger utilizes fake websites that closely mimic established news sources such as Der Spiegel, Le Parisien, Fox News, and The Washington Post. These counterfeit sites publish fabricated articles that are then circulated to amplify the campaign’s themes.

In the United States, for example, Doppelganger has disseminated articles critical of the LGBTQ+ movement, which is banned in Russia, and has sought to sow doubts about the competence of the U.S. military. These efforts are designed to create division and erode trust within Western societies.

Conclusion

The Doppelganger disinformation campaign highlights the ongoing efforts by Russian entities to manipulate public opinion and destabilize international support for Ukraine. By mimicking credible news sources and spreading false narratives, Doppelganger seeks to influence both Western and Russian audiences, ultimately serving the Kremlin’s strategic interests in the conflict.