A significant decline in the number of pro-Russian bots online has been reported following Ukrainian strikes on Yandex data centres.
The reported decline is supported by internet traffic monitoring data, which indicates that automated requests originating from Yandex have fallen to almost zero.
However, this disruption is unlikely to affect human propagandists paid by Russia or preparations for hybrid attacks.
According to observations shared by users on X, the number of anti-Ukrainian comments has decreased significantly. Likes and reposts of anti-Ukrainian content have also declined, while several accounts previously involved in spreading such messages have reportedly remained inactive since the strike on a data centre in Vladimir, Russia.
The decline reportedly extends even to recent statements by US President Donald Trump criticising the Ukrainian government, with reposts falling by 37% compared with similar earlier posts.
Online activity supporting certain political parties and movements has also reportedly dropped sharply, ranging from Texas separatist groups to Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
A reduction has also been observed in the activity of accounts presenting themselves as Polish users expressing hostility towards Ukrainians, as well as accounts posing as Ukrainians spreading anti-Polish messages.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has also reported a decline in Russian bot activity online.
The observations suggest a possible connection between the strikes on Yandex infrastructure and reduced activity by suspected Russian influence networks, although the available data does not independently establish a direct causal link.
