Russia's social media campaign targets Western support for Ukraine
In the coming months, Russian and Russia-inspired efforts on social networks are expected to focus on undermining Western support for Ukraine.
According to META, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, Moscow has been inundating global social networks with covert operations aimed at eroding Western backing for Kiev since the onset of the invasion over two years ago.
Initially, Russia ran its own campaigns. However, recently, it has concentrated on amplifying social media posts and accounts of Western politicians who argue that the billions of dollars provided to Ukraine would be better spent domestically.
“Since the start of Russia's large-scale war in 2022, Russian-inspired campaigns have largely aimed to undermine Ukraine both domestically and internationally. Some campaigns have also targeted other countries in Russia’s immediate vicinity, such as Georgia and Moldova,” notes the META report.
META cannot estimate how many of these campaigns are directly linked to or coordinated by Russian authorities, according to Politico.
Ahead of the November presidential elections in the United States, where Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance and other GOP leaders have openly criticised Washington's financial support for Ukraine, META stated that Russian influence operations will seek to amplify the impact of these criticisms. META emphasised, however, that there is no direct connection between these American politicians and the Russian influence campaigns.
The goal of Russian social network campaigns in the United States and other Western countries holding elections is to weaken support for Ukraine, rather than to support any specific politician or candidate, according to META.
Russian-inspired campaigns promoting anti-Ukrainian rhetoric are part of hybrid warfare tactics frequently discussed by President Maia Sandu, particularly in the context of the upcoming presidential elections and the pro-European referendum in October.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
