Russia spent €70 million on hybrid influence in Romania and Bulgaria – investigation

According to newly released report from the Bulgarian cybersecurity firm BG Elves, Russia has spent around 70 million euros to fund a large-scale influence campaign aimed at destabilizing Romania and Bulgaria. 

Moscow carried out propaganda operations, disseminated its narratives, manipulated public opinion, and supported far-right and anti-European storylines through digital and offline channels, Novinite reported.

The investigation indicated that the overall campaign cost amounted to 69 million euros. The transmission of funds in small transactions (approximately 5,000) complicated the tracking of financial flows and concealed the funding source.

The funds aimed to assist local firms, groups, and individuals in manipulating the information sphere in Bulgaria and Romania. The sophisticated scheme, which was operational since 2010, used a large infrastructure, including Russian domains and rented servers in the Netherlands and Germany, to carry out its operations.

The company Adnow played an important role in this process by disseminating sensationalist and manipulative messages in advertisements, the research found. Adnow systems gather user data, such as gender, geo location, and even behavioral aspects, to develop extensive profiles for targeted advertising. User data was subsequently transferred to Russia and used for future ads campaigns.

Furthermore, criminal actors put malware on customers’ devices using false offers and award schemes. This spyware provided complete remote access to the victims’ data, allowing the hackers to monitor discussions and disseminate disinformation through their connections.

BG Elves believed that Adnow, which generates millions of impressions per month, could have infected thousands of people, allowing the perpetrators to reach huge audiences. They also stated that the activities of these Russia-backed groups have grown dramatically, now including services such as bot farms and VPN networks to help spread Kremlin propaganda.

The primary objectives of Russian information operations were to disseminate anti-EU sentiments, destabilize the political stage in Bulgaria and Romania, and strengthen pro-Russian influence in these EU member states. Russian disinformation campaign used tailored narratives to undermine trust in European institutions, incite social conflicts, and promote radical ideologies among the public, the report says.

The relevant authorities in Romania, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine have received information about these operations. These nations are currently exploring strategies to counter similar risks in the future.

Cybersecurity experts underline the importance of improving digital information space monitoring and international coordination in the fight against disinformation and foreign influence operations online. Bulgaria and Romania have already begun to introduce new measures to safeguard their citizens from foreign malign propaganda.

The disclosure of the extent of Russian disinformation efforts in Bulgaria and Romania underscores the crucial necessity of combating Russian interference and foreign influence operations to safeguard national security.

Russia’s investments in information warfare are not just tools for manipulation, but they also pose direct threats to security and stability in the EU. Coordinated global efforts are required to tackle these threats, which are evolving and becoming more sophisticated.