NewsGuard reports surge in European media impersonation by Russian networks

The international organization NewsGuard has reported a sharp increase in disinformation campaigns across Europe, where Russian and pro-Russian networks are impersonating legitimate media outlets. Since 2022, NewsGuard has identified 906 instances of fake news published under the identities of reputable news organizations, with a significant surge noted in the first half of 2026.

These operations, attributed to networks such as ‘Matryoshka’ and ‘Storm-1516’, utilize logos, branding, and deceptive web addresses to mimic established media houses. The campaigns aim to spread fabricated narratives and false accusations to undermine public trust in legitimate journalism. The rise of generative artificial intelligence has further enabled the creation of highly convincing fake content.

European media outlets are primary targets, likely due to their nations' support for Ukraine. In France, 85 fake news stories related to the 2027 presidential elections were recorded during the summer. Specific outlets targeted include Euronews, Liberation, Charlie Hebdo, and Agence France-Presse. Other major targets identified include the BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Politico.