German media outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR, WDR, and Estonia’s Delfi have uncovered a treasure trove of internal documents from Russia’s “Agency of Social Design” (ASD), a Kremlin-linked organization under sanctions by the EU and the U.S.
According to US law enforcement, this entity works on behalf of the Russian Presidential Administration, engaging in disinformation campaigns designed to undermine Ukraine and its Western allies.
Journalists from Schemes (Radio Liberty), collaborating with a dozen European newsrooms, examined thousands of leaked files in a project titled “Fake Factory.”
The findings reveal a meticulously crafted operation aimed at discrediting Ukraine, its leadership, and pro-Ukraine Western nations, while promoting Russian interests and pro-Kremlin European politicians.
ASD organization and its’ Doppelganger campaign
The leaked documents expose the true nature of ASD, which is led by Russian political strategist Ilya Gambashidze.
The organisation presents itself as a full-service media consultancy, offering everything from monitoring Western media to countering perceived threats through disinformation campaigns.
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Journalists obtained an internal video presentation in which Gambashidze symbolically removes his dark glasses and military-style hood, indicating that “hiding is no longer necessary” following the 2023 exposure of ASD’s “Doppelganger” campaign by France’s intelligence service.
The Doppelganger operation was a massive disinformation effort involving the creation of fake websites resembling well-known media outlets like Le Monde and Der Spiegel, which published misleading articles aimed at discrediting Ukraine.
The campaign also extended to the U.S., Germany, and Israel, and was labeled by Meta (Facebook’s parent company) as one of the largest Russian special operations it had encountered since 2017.
U.S. authorities directly accuse ASD of working for the Kremlin, with Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Putin’s administration, overseeing its activities. Additionally, the leaked files frequently mention Sofia Zakharova, another Kremlin official, who allegedly plays a key role in planning disinformation campaigns.
How ASD operates
Three key areas comprise ASD’s operations: monitoring, analysis, and creative content generation.
A team of 24 staff members meticulously tracks over 1,000 influential voices in pro- and anti-Russian circles, analysing articles and social media posts in six languages to identify opportunities for misinformation.
In the analysis phase, the agency studies target audiences and creates “talking points” or “narratives” for its operatives to use. Finally, ASD’s creative team develops fake news articles, social media posts, and visual propaganda tailored to resonate with specific countries and cultures.
From January to April 2024 alone, the team produced nearly 40,000 pieces of content, including fake posts, videos, memes, and fabricated official documents.
Authorities have accused ASD of forging official government documents, including press releases from the German Ministry of the Interior and the Polish Customs Service, with the intention of undermining Western institutions and advancing Russia’s agenda.
These disinformation pieces were crafted to discredit Ukraine’s government, often accusing Ukrainian leadership of censorship and manipulation, such as hiding information about military personnel aboard a downed Il-76 aircraft in Russia in 2024.
ASD disinformation strategy and efforts
A critical aspect of ASD’s disinformation strategy is to exploit sensitive topics in Ukraine, such as military losses, corruption, and the controversial relationship between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
ASD also seeks to create rifts between Zelenskyy and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, as well as former commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valeriy Zaluzhny.
The owner of the meme, billionaire Elon Musk, shared it on the social network X, according to leaked internal documents from a Kremlin-controlled propaganda center.
ASD’s bots play a key role in spreading these divisive narratives. Leaked files show that these bots left comments under posts from Ukrainian government agencies, law enforcement, and media outlets, spreading falsehoods designed to polarize public opinion.
However, Ukrainian social media users have become adept at identifying these efforts, often exposing fake content due to grammatical and logical errors in the posts.
Fabricating stories for Western audiences
ASD’s activities extend beyond Ukraine, with a concerted effort to spread disinformation targeting European countries.
One notable example is a fabricated video, styled as a report from Germany’s Bild newspaper, claiming that Ukrainian refugees accidentally burned down a house while attempting to destroy a Russian flag.
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Fact-checkers debunked this video, revealing it had been pieced together from old footage unrelated to Ukraine. Despite this, the video was widely shared across Russian Telegram channels and social media platforms targeting European audiences.
Other fabricated stories aimed at discrediting Ukrainians abroad included false accusations of theft and violence, all of which were designed to turn European public opinion against Ukrainian refugees.
Interference in the 2024 European Elections
ASD also sought to influence the 2024 European Parliamentary elections, supporting right-wing parties expected to promote pro-Russian narratives.
Leaked documents show that ASD planned a comprehensive disinformation campaign targeting liberal “globalist” politicians, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
This campaign aimed to stir fear about Russia’s potential attack on the EU, criticise gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights, and accuse the EU of economic mismanagement.
Particularly in Germany and France, ASD sought to elevate far-right parties like Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France’s National Front. Despite some electoral success, the disinformation efforts did not fully meet Russia’s expectations.
For instance, far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni showed unexpected support for Ukraine, undermining Russia’s hope that they would align more closely with the Kremlin.
The “Other Ukraine”: Medvedchuk’s pro-Kremlin movement
ASD’s influence reaches deep into Ukraine itself, where the agency helped launch and promote Viktor Medvedchuk’s pro-Kremlin political movement, The Other Ukraine.
Medvedchuk, once the head of Ukraine’s banned pro-Russian Opposition Platform—For Life party, re-emerged in 2023 with this new organization, promoting peace talks with Russia and calling for an end to Western military support for Ukraine.
Leaked documents show that ASD provided comprehensive support to Medvedchuk’s movement, from crafting anti-Ukrainian narratives to managing his social media presence.
Even in Russian social media circles, where he frequently faces criticism for his perceived opportunism and betrayal of Ukraine, Medvedchuk remains deeply unpopular despite these efforts.
Russia’s global disinformation network
The leaked files from ASD provide an unprecedented look into the scale and sophistication of Russia’s disinformation machine.
From fabricating fake news to manipulating public opinion across Europe and Ukraine, ASD plays a critical role in advancing the Kremlin’s geopolitical goals.
While Russia’s disinformation campaigns have had some success, particularly in polarizing European societies and boosting far-right parties, the long-term impact remains uncertain.
As governments and media organizations become increasingly adept at identifying and countering these efforts, the challenge will be maintaining resilience against the ever-evolving tactics of Russia’s disinformation network.
This investigation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle for truth in the digital age, where misinformation can easily distort reality and influence global politics.