Russia has launched a large-scale sabotage campaign aimed at destabilizing Germany and interfering with upcoming elections. According to the Center for Monitoring, Analysis, and Strategy, Moscow's actions are focused on supporting pro-Kremlin parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and undermining the electoral process as a whole. The campaign heavily relies on disinformation, provocations, and attempts to manipulate public opinion, according to experts at the Robert Lansing Institute.
Russia's key strategy involves exploiting anti-immigrant sentiments to strengthen AfD's position. Kremlin-linked networks are reportedly working to destabilize migration communities and create a favorable atmosphere for the party. Over the past few weeks, experts have recorded over 600 disinformation posts, mainly on X (formerly Twitter), masquerading as articles from major German outlets like Der Spiegel and Die Welt, and linking to fake news sites.
It has been established that most of these posts are coordinated from Russia using IP addresses connected to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Activity peaks during Moscow working hours, and some posts, translated from Russian, contain characteristic errors, such as incorrect names of AfD, indicating foreign origin.
Additionally, Russia is attempting to discredit pro-Ukraine parties, including the Green Party and Chancellor Olaf Scholz. As the Bundestag elections approach, criticism of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), particularly its leader Friedrich Merz, is growing. At the same time, AfD is portrayed in a highly positive light.
The campaign also involves drone activity over German military sites, linked to broader Russian intelligence operations, including recruiting Russian-speaking EU citizens to acquire anonymous SIM cards and local maps. These activities may be aimed at sabotage of both military and civilian infrastructure in Germany.
Russian diplomatic missions in Germany have reportedly received large sums of money from Moscow, possibly funding subversive actions, including bribing and supporting pro-Russian activists.
Experts emphasize that this is not Russia's first attempt to interfere in German elections, with its actions targeting pro-Ukrainian and pro-NATO forces, while strengthening the position of Kremlin-sympathetic parties. By manipulating migration issues, Russia spreads false information about the connection between migrants and social problems, creating societal tension.
Similar methods have been used in Poland and France, where Moscow utilized migration-related issues as a tool of hybrid warfare, further confirming that Russia continues to use disinformation and provocations to achieve its geopolitical goals.
