Full Breakdown
Russian Disinformation Campaigns Intensify Against French Media Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Surge in Russian Disinformation Targeting French Media
A new report from the media-watchdog NewsGuard reveals a dramatic rise in fake-news articles that imitate trusted French outlets. Over the past year, the volume of brand-spoofing stories has jumped 850 %, climbing from 44 incidents in early 2025 to 421 in the same period of 2026. The analysis attributes the surge to three pro-Russian influence operations that produced 950 counterfeit pieces mimicking 163 news brands across 21 countries. French media are disproportionately affected: eight of the 15 most-imitated outlets are French, and FRANCE 24’s brand was hijacked 34 times in the last twelve months.
Background and Context
Disinformation tactics linked to the Russian government began with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and have evolved into a hybrid-war strategy. Operations known as “Matriochka,” “Storm-1516,” and “Doppelganger” now target European outlets to erode trust in Western institutions and to interfere with upcoming electoral cycles, including France’s 2027 presidential race.
Data and Statistics
- 850 % increase in brand-spoofing fake news (44 -> 421 stories).
- 950 fake articles generated by three identified pro-Kremlin networks.
- 15 most-imitated brands include eight French outlets; Euronews received 82 fake articles between March 2023 and September 2026.
- The “Pravda network” (also called Portal Kombat) comprises 280 websites, publishing roughly 6.3 million articles and 115 false claims in 2025.
- A fabricated claim alleged that 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers were evacuated to France and deserted; official figures show just over 200 Ukrainians were treated in French hospitals from February 2022 to April 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
NewsGuard’s Europe editor Chine Labbé emphasizes that France’s substantial aid to Ukraine makes it a prime target for these campaigns. Cécile Mégie, director of editorial strategies at France Médias Monde, warns that the tactics create a “climate of doubt” about all media. A Google spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to high standards for AI-driven search results, noting that the firm could not reproduce the disputed chatbot response.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's no surprise that France , which is one of the biggest contributors of aid to Ukraine , is being specifically targeted,” — Chine Labbé, Europe editor at NewsGuard
- “The explosion of this phenomenon may mean that the Russians see it as an effective tactic for eroding Western citizens' trust in the media – or at the very least, that there is significant potential to be tapped at little cost,” — Chine Labbé, Europe editor at NewsGuard
- “In every case, the Russian campaigns hijack the brands’ logos and layouts, sometimes creating a new site using a URL similar to the authentic one, making it difficult for the typical user to discern that it is counterfeit,” — NewsGuard, europe editor
- “Leveraging a trusted media brand makes it possible to produce more credible fake news,” — Chine Labbé, Europe editor at NewsGuard
- “That's one of Matriochka's goals: to whitewash the Russian narrative by getting picked up by other media outlets or finding its way into chatbot responses,” — Labbé. Read
