# EU response to Russian disinformation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-response-to-russian-disinformation > Updated: 2026-08-04T21:15:38.000Z. Sources: 22. Developments: 6. In early June 2026 a German Bundestag hearing warned that Russian state‑run disinformation, now amplified by AI‑generated content, is a direct security threat. Experts cited a €1.5 billion Russian propaganda budget and urged stronger media‑literacy programmes, tighter enforcement of the EU Digital Services Act and coordinated public‑awareness measures. The SPD Economic Forum’s 25 June position paper called for a national disinformation‑defence centre to enable real‑time detection and response, citing forged posts with German media logos ahead of state elections in Saxony‑Anhalt, Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and Berlin that echo the “Matrjoschka” campaign previously linked to Russian interference. On 1 July the BOSNET research project entered operation. Led by the University of Potsdam and partners including Virtimo AG, the platform provides AI‑driven analysis, an information‑assessment engine and a GDPR‑compliant knowledge base, built on an ethics‑by‑design cloud architecture to support German security agencies. Mid‑July, the “Storm‑1516” campaign circulated a fabricated video threatening France with bloodshed if it continued arms supplies to Israel, while parallel fake videos smeared candidates from the SPD, Greens, Left and CDU ahead of the Saxony‑Anhalt election. By early August, authorities reported a coordinated Russian operation targeting the Berlin, Saxony‑Anhalt and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern state elections. The effort spreads English‑language fake‑news videos accusing centrist politicians of financial and sexual misconduct, deploys physical propaganda such as cement blocks with misleading slogans, and attempts to clone Wikipedia, all aimed at polarising the electorate and bolstering the far‑right AfD. On 4 August, German security agencies identified a further Russian disinformation effort dubbed “Operation Matrjoschka” aimed at the September state elections in the same three regions. Hundreds of AI‑generated videos falsely accuse CDU, SPD, Greens and FDP politicians of embezzlement and sexual misconduct, bear the logos of well‑known German media outlets, and are disseminated primarily on X before being removed. ## Claims - Russian actors have launched a disinformation campaign targeting the German state elections in September 2026. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The campaign uses fabricated videos that falsely accuse politicians of embezzlement and sexual misconduct. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The videos display logos of German media outlets to appear credible. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The videos are primarily distributed on the social‑media platform X, with many later removed. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The operation is part of “Operation Matrjoschka,” previously observed in the 2025 Bundestag election. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The campaign deliberately spares the AfD and BSW from the fake‑video attacks. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Russian actors employ AI‑generated content and a network of firms to produce the disinformation. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Physical installations with slogans such as “I am still waiting for my pension” have been found in central Berlin and are attributed to Russian influence. (corroborated by 9 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Russian disinformation campaign targets German state elections in September German security services say Russia is running a disinformation campaign with fake videos, AI‑generated content and Berlin installations to influence September state elections, sparing the AfD and using the “Mā 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-disinformation-campaign-targets-german-state-elections ### 2026-07-16: Russia-linked disinformation videos threaten France and smear German politicians Russian‑linked fake videos threaten France and defame German election candidates, showing coordinated disinformation ahead of elections. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-linked-disinformation-videos-threaten-france-and-smear-german-politicians ### 2026-07-15: Virtimo AG initiates BOSNET platform to fight disinformation in Germany BOSNET, launched 1 July 2026, is a Virtimo‑led AI platform to help German security agencies combat disinformation, built with universities and THW partners and complying with GDPR and the EU AI Act. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/virtimo-ag-initiates-bosnet-platform-to-fight-disinformation-in-germany ### 2026-07-05: Russia-linked disinformation aimed at Germany's AfD ahead of Berlin election Analyst warns Russia will use disinformation against the AfD before Berlin's election, while Viadrina University launches a master’s programme to curb authoritarian influence. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-linked-disinformation-aimed-at-germanys-afd-ahead-of-berlin-election ### 2026-06-25: Germany proposes national centre to combat online disinformation Germany’s SPD forum urges a national centre to counter AI‑driven disinformation, while the BfV flags forged election posts linked to Russian interference. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-proposes-national-centre-to-combat-online-disinformation ### 2026-06-09: German Bundestag hearing warns Russian disinformation as democratic threat German lawmakers warned that Russian disinformation, boosted by AI and big platforms, threatens democracy and supports the war on Ukraine, urging media‑literacy and tighter regulation. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-bundestag-hearing-flags-russian-disinformation-as-threat-to-democracies --- Cite as: EU response to Russian disinformation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-response-to-russian-disinformation