In recent weeks, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has recorded increased activity by Russian special information operations through foreign proxy platforms.
A number of media outlets have been amplifying well-known Kremlin narratives about Ukraine, including claims of “illegitimate authority,” “demoralization of the Armed Forces,” and “external governance.”
Despite EU sanctions, Russia continues to rely on both state-run and so-called “private” media (RIA Novosti, RT, Gazeta.ru, Lenta.ru, TASS, Voennoye Delo) as well as a network of proxy outlets abroad. These resources either directly republish messages from sanctioned Russian media or cite them as sources. Examples include Pogled.info (Bulgaria), Baltnews/baltija.eu (Estonia), Frontnieuws.com (Netherlands), Uusi MV-Lehti (Finland), Cutiapandorei (Romania), and jednotneslovensko.info (Slovakia).
Last week, these sites circulated speculative narratives citing sanctioned Russian outlets. For information operations aimed at dehumanizing Ukraine’s Defense Forces, Russia used platforms such as Substack, ZeroHedge (US), ProNews (Greece), Informer (Serbia), Parlamentni Listy and CZ24.news (Czech Republic). These carried claims about the “collapse of Ukraine’s defense,” “terrorist methods of the Armed Forces,” and Ukraine’s alleged “inability to hold the front.”
Narratives about the “illegitimacy” and “corruption” of Ukraine’s leadership have been consistently pushed through Hungary’s Magyar Nemzet. Meanwhile, arguments that the war can only end through Kyiv’s concessions to Moscow are being spread via The American Conservative (US), Reseau International (France), and CZ24.news (Czech Republic).
According to Foreign Intelligence Service, Moscow’s propaganda efforts are now focused on the political dimension, seeking to undermine the unity of the Western anti-war coalition and its partnership with Ukraine.
The agency stresses that information hygiene abroad is a key element of comprehensive resistance to Russian aggression. Foreign Intelligence Service continues to monitor Russia’s activities in the information sphere and takes countermeasures, including cooperation with foreign partner intelligence services.
