Russian state media and pro-Kremlin outlets across Europe exploited sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s released documents to fabricate narratives linking Ukraine’s leadership to corruption and trafficking—a coordinated disinformation campaign designed to destroy international support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing war.
Russian information operations reached an unprecedented scale between January 30 and February 1, 2025, when they used the so-called “Epstein files” as a main weapon against Ukraine. Ukrainian publication Mezha first revealed the scope of this campaign, while an investigation by Insight News Media has uncovered how Russian state media coordinated with a network of European outlets to spread manipulated narratives across the continent.
The operation shows a complex two-layer propaganda system: Russian state media generates the false information, and European media that hides their pro-Moscow views picks up these stories for local audiences. These European platforms position themselves as “independent,” “alternative,” or “uncensored” media, concealing their alignment with Kremlin messaging while systematically undermining Ukraine’s international standing.
Monitoring data revealed that about 145 internet resources known for systematic disinformation activities published nearly 19,700 materials mentioning Ukraine during this three-day period, outpacing legitimate foreign media outlets by almost 1.9 times. The data shows that about 66% of all foreign content about Ukraine came from sources that were part of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), and the coordination of these activities can be traced back to Russian operations. The campaign produced more than 300 articles that used any mention of Ukraine, Ukrainian politicians, or Ukrainian cities found in the Epstein documents to spread false stories about supposed “state coups,” “external control,” and “total corruption,” all of which were meant to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and democratic institutions.
Moscow’s media machine: Manufacturing the foundation
Russian state media outlets RT, Sputnik, and RIA Novosti were the first to spread disinformation. These are the main tools Moscow uses in its information warfare. Unlike the European outlets that conceal their pro-Russian orientation, these platforms openly operate as Russian government media but employ sophisticated techniques to inject disinformation into Western discourse.
Sputnik Africa published an article that became the upstream source for much of the European disinformation ecosystem, deliberately framing Epstein’s casual correspondence as evidence of Western elite manipulation of Ukraine. The outlet stated: “Correspondence from the late U.S. financier referenced Ukraine’s 2019 presidential election, won by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to newly released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice reviewed by Sputnik.” The article then weaponized these emails by quoting Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who stated that the “satanic cabal” had seen and profited from what Epstein described as “many opportunities, very many” following the coup in Ukraine that led to the ongoing war.
- https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260202/1083066946.html
This represents a classic Russian disinformation technique: using the term “coup” rather than revolution to delegitimize the 2014 Maidan uprising, while simultaneously portraying Ukraine as a corrupt playground for Western elites, with Epstein serving as symbolic proof of this narrative. By having a Russian government official describe Western leaders as a “satanic cabal” profiting from Ukraine, Sputnik transforms Epstein’s emails about investment opportunities into supposed evidence of a criminal conspiracy controlling Ukraine.
RT complemented this approach by suggesting Western elite crimes somehow invalidate support for Ukraine. The outlet wrote: “While everyone is scouring over the millions of newly released Epstein documents, which continue to expose the disgusting depths of depravity among Western elites, a familiar discredited voice has surfaced with a convenient alternative tale: blame Russia.”
- https://www.rt.com/news/632005-jeffrey-epstein-russia-conspiracy-media/
This technique creates false equivalence and moral relativism, suggesting that if Western leaders have any connection to scandal, their support for Ukraine must be illegitimate.
These Russian state outlets established the foundational propaganda narrative: that Epstein’s interest in Ukraine after 2014 proves Western elites orchestrated Maidan to exploit the country, that Ukraine’s current leadership is tied to corrupt networks, and that Western support for Ukraine serves elite financial interests rather than democratic principles. This narrative then spread through European outlets that could cite Russian sources while adding their own localized disinformation.
“Maidan coup” mythology: Rewriting history through Epstein’s emails
One of the central narratives in this disinformation campaign involves portraying Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan revolution as a Western-orchestrated “coup” rather than a popular uprising. This framing serves a critical propaganda purpose: if Maidan was illegitimate, then Ukraine’s current government has no democratic mandate, and Russian aggression can be justified as correcting a historical wrong.
Slovak outlet Infovojna.com weaponized Epstein’s emails to reinforce this narrative, consistently using the Russian term “prevrat” (coup) rather than revolution. The outlet stated: “The organizer of the global pedophile network for the global elite, Jeffrey Epstein, began to take intense interest in Ukraine after the coup on the Maidan in 2014,” deliberately connecting Epstein’s criminal activities to Ukraine’s democratic movement. The article continued by quoting from emails: “The revolution in Ukraine will open many opportunities, very many… According to him, sophisticated corruption reigns there, and huge sums of money are being made.”
- https://www.infovojna.com/article/na-ukrajine-je-rafinovana-korupcia-a-zarabaju-sa-tam-obrovske-sumy-penazi-pisal-jeffrey-epstein-v-jednom-zo-svojich-e-mailov-po-zvoleni-volodymyra-zelenskeho-za-ukrajinskeho-prezidenta
Another Slovak platform, Slovanskenoviny.sk, escalated this narrative into full conspiracy theory territory. The outlet claimed: “According to materials from the archive of the deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein, shortly after the state coup in Ukraine in 2014, he negotiated with representatives of the Rothschild banking family about strategies on how to financially profit from the events on the Maidan.”
- https://slovanskenoviny.sk/na-ukrajine-je-rafinovana-korupcia-a-zarabaju-sa-tam-obrovske-sumy-penazi-pisal-jeffrey-epstein-v-jednom-zo-svojich-e-mailov-po-zvoleni-volodymyra-zelenskeho-za-ukrajinskeho-prezide/
This addition of antisemitic Rothschild conspiracy theories represents a common technique in pro-Russian disinformation: layering multiple conspiracy narratives to create an overwhelming sense that Ukraine is controlled by sinister global forces.
The genius of this approach lies in exploiting Epstein’s genuine interest in international affairs and investment opportunities. Like many wealthy individuals, Epstein discussed global events in his correspondence. But by selectively quoting his emails and removing context, these outlets transform ordinary financial interest into evidence of a criminal conspiracy, with Ukraine positioned as both a corrupt opportunity and a Western puppet state.
Identity politics as ammunition: Weaponizing Zelenskyy’s background
A particularly insidious narrative thread involves using the Epstein files as a vehicle to inject antisemitic attacks on President Zelenskyy. By framing their coverage around “Epstein’s correspondence about Zelenskyy’s election,” pro-Russian outlets create a pretext to delegitimize Ukraine’s leadership through identity-based propaganda.
Czech outlet CZ24.news published an article ostensibly about Epstein’s emails regarding Zelenskyy’s 2019 election but used this framing to publish statements attributed to pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Dmitry Vasilets that directly attacked Zelenskyy’s identity: “Zelenskyy is under great pressure. He is an actor, right? I don’t think he is the second Reagan… Does he represent anything at all? He acts like a typical Eastern European adventurer who profits from the theme of Ukrainian pride while being a halachic Jew.” The article escalated further, stating: “Zelenskyy is thus expressly a halachic Jew (a person recognized as Jewish according to Halacha, according to which Judaism is transmitted exclusively through the maternal line or through the process of giyur), who staged a comedy that ended in a bloody massacre of hundreds of thousands of people.”
- https://cz24.news/epsteinova-korespondencia-o-zvoleni-zelenskeho/
The Epstein files serve merely as the hook for this disinformation. The actual emails contain no such antisemitic content, but by titling the article around Epstein’s correspondence about Zelenskyy, the outlet legitimizes publishing propaganda that questions Zelenskyy’s legitimacy by suggesting his Jewish identity somehow conflicts with Ukrainian patriotism, connects his background as an entertainer to accusations of unseriousness and manipulation, and most dangerously, uses the phrase “bloody massacre of hundreds of thousands” to implicitly blame Zelenskyy for deaths caused by Russian aggression, inverting perpetrator and victim.
Slovak outlet Hlavnydennik.sk employed a different but related technique, using sensationalist framing with the headline “UKRAJINCI ZISTILI!” (Ukrainians discovered!) to falsely suggest Ukrainian sources confirmed these narratives. The article claimed, “In May 2019, Epstein ordered an unknown partner, presumably a Ukrainian woman, to ‘start following’ Ukrainian politics, including topics of Zelenskyy, parliament, and corruption… Epstein responds with a sober comment, pointing out that it’s not about fun, and apparently encourages his partner to engage in corruption.”
- https://www.hlavnydennik.sk/2026/02/04/ukrajinci-zistili-ako-sa-zelenskyj-objavuje-v-najnovsich-spisoch-o-epsteinovi
By presenting Epstein’s casual correspondence as evidence of corruption schemes and using the “Ukrainians discovered” framing, the outlet creates the false impression that these interpretations come from Ukrainian sources rather than pro-Russian propaganda networks.
Trafficking lie: Manufacturing criminal accusations
Perhaps the most explosive and entirely fabricated narrative involves claims linking President Zelenskyy to human trafficking networks. This represents the darkest application of the disinformation playbook: using Epstein’s genuine trafficking crimes to manufacture associations with Ukrainian leadership through deliberate misrepresentation of documents.
Serbian outlet INSajder.com, operating across Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, directly amplified Russian state media claims without any verification. Citing RIA Novosti as its source, the outlet published: “In the newly released materials from the case against the scandalous sexual predator and financier Jeffrey Epstein, claims appear about the possible involvement of Volodymyr Zelensky in human trafficking on the territory of Ukraine, reports Ria Novosti, citing documents published by the U.S. Department of Justice.” The article used a question mark in its headline, “Documents link Zelensky to human trafficking?” to plant the accusation while maintaining plausible deniability.
The outlet continued with even more serious fabricated claims: “The letter also claims that Brunel was responsible for organizing a human trafficking network in Ukraine… The letter also claims that Zelensky is not fighting human trafficking, that is, the abduction and export of women and children from Ukraine.”
- https://insajder.com/magazin/epsteinovi-dosjeji-dokumenti-povezujejo-zelenskega-s-trgovino-z-ljudmi
This represents pure disinformation construction: transforming unverified claims from anonymous emails into accusations of presidential complicity in trafficking networks, all while citing Russian state media as the authoritative source. This narrative is particularly effective because it exploits legitimate concerns about human trafficking that have intensified during Russia’s war against Ukraine. By associating Zelenskyy with trafficking rather than acknowledging that Russian aggression has created conditions exploited by traffickers, the disinformation inverts reality and places blame on the victim nation’s leadership.
Elite conspiracy narratives: Connecting Epstein to Western “control” of Ukraine
A broader narrative theme involves portraying Ukraine as a playground for Western financial elites, with Epstein serving as symbolic evidence of corrupt networks controlling the country. This framing appeals to anti-establishment sentiment across the political spectrum while advancing Russian talking points about Ukraine lacking genuine sovereignty.
Dutch outlet Frontnieuws.com explicitly framed the Epstein revelations as Western “damage control,” claiming the documents revealed “very interesting things about the secret maneuvers behind the scenes of Western elites with regard to the conflict in Ukraine. It confirms most suspected ‘clichés’ about a kind of conspiracy of insiders who strive to undermine Russia while simultaneously exploiting Ukraine for their own profit-seeking.” The outlet constructed an elaborate conspiracy connecting Epstein to Israeli intelligence and Ukrainian corruption: “A pedophile who collaborated with the daughter of Mossad boss Robert Maxwell, who often wore IDF shirts and repeatedly seemed to visit Kiev while funneling financial resources to Ukraine, supposedly worked for Russia.”
- https://www.frontnieuws.com/damage-control-epstein-een-russische-spion-volgens-nieuwe-spincyclus-van-de-bedrijfsmedia/
This represents a sophisticated propaganda technique: acknowledging that calling Epstein a “Russian spy” seems absurd while simultaneously suggesting his activities in Ukraine serve as evidence of Western, not Russian, malfeasance. The narrative essentially argues that because Epstein had connections to Western figures and showed interest in Ukraine, this proves Western exploitation of the country, conveniently ignoring Russia’s actual military occupation of Ukrainian territory.
Italian leftist outlet Contropiano.org used the Epstein files to delegitimize Western support for Ukraine through a different angle, writing: “A Trump in clear internal difficulty, who had to reverse his position on the release of the ‘Epstein files,’ now saying he agrees because ‘I have nothing to fear,’ tries to relaunch international ‘peace’ policy, this time on Ukraine.”
- https://contropiano.org/news/internazionale-news/2025/11/20/il-piano-di-pace-per-lucraina-nasce-zoppo-0188971
By connecting Trump’s handling of Epstein files to Ukraine policy, the outlet suggests Western leadership on Ukraine is compromised by scandal and self-interest rather than genuine support for Ukrainian sovereignty.
Why Epstein documents work as propaganda
The Epstein documents provide particularly effective disinformation material for several reasons. Epstein’s genuine guilt makes guilt-by-association tactics stronger because the emotional response to his crimes can make it challenging to look at claimed connections critically. The files are long and complicated, which makes it easy to quote them out of context and give false impressions. Sex crimes generate moral outrage that can bypass rational evaluation, and framing narratives around “protecting children” weaponizes a universal value against any target. The fact that the documents were released through official U.S. government channels makes any claims based on them seem more credible, even if those claims are false or grossly misleading.
The narrative serves specific Russian strategic objectives. It delegitimizes President Zelenskyy by associating him with pedophilia and corruption without requiring any actual evidence. It undermines Western aid by suggesting support for “corrupt elites” rather than defending democracy. It tries to make the Russian invasion seem like a fight against a “global pedophile network” instead of an act of aggression against a sovereign nation. It wants to break up the EU’s agreement by using “anti-pedophile” framing to appeal to conservative voters and take advantage of real worries about protecting children. And it takes attention away from Russia’s war crimes by making false comparisons, as if Ukraine’s leaders are somehow responsible for Russia’s well-documented atrocities.
Simultaneously with the Epstein publications, Russian propaganda launched coordinated attacks on Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts and President Zelenskyy personally, accusing him of “intransigence” and deliberately sabotaging peace negotiations, timing these attacks to coincide with consultations in Abu Dhabi. Following widespread power outages on January 31, approximately 500 manipulative publications appeared depicting Ukraine as a “failed state,” echoing the corruption themes promoted through the Epstein materials and creating a multimedia assault on Ukraine’s reputation from multiple angles.
Beyond information: Understanding modern propaganda warfare
The Epstein files disinformation campaign shows how modern information warfare works, where the line between fact and fiction is purposely blurred. Russian state media and their camouflaged European proxies didn’t come up with completely new lies. Instead, they turned real documents into weapons, cut them off from their context, linked them to false claims, and spread them through networks that made it look like they were getting independent confirmation. The operation’s size, with almost 20,000 publications in three days, shows how well Russia’s disinformation infrastructure works and how willing European media outlets are to spread Kremlin stories. As Russia’s war against Ukraine goes on, it’s important to understand these information operations not only to spot false narratives but also to see how truth itself becomes a victim when documents are turned into weapons, context is removed as inconvenient, and the goal is not to inform people but to destroy their trust in the very idea of knowing what is real.
