France accuses Russia of faking websites to sow confusion about Ukraine war

The Internet Research Agency. This building on 55 Savushkina Street in Saint Petersburg, Russia, EU and US authorities claim, originally housed the "Russian troll factory" from where disinformation was spread over the internet. The building is now for rent. © Wikimedia commons

France’s government accused Russia on Tuesday of operating a long-running online manipulation campaign, including impersonating the websites of leading French media and the French Foreign Ministry, aimed at spreading confusion and false information about the war in Ukraine.

The French agency responsible for fighting foreign digital interference, Viginum, said it has monitored the alleged operation since soon after Russia invaded its neighbor and that France was one of several European countries targeted.

It said it traced the campaign to Russian individuals, companies and “state entities or entities affiliated to the Russian state.”

Last month, the agency detected a mirror website mimicking the French Foreign Ministry's and intervened with “protective and preventive measures,” Viginum said in a report published Tuesday.

“France condemns these actions, which are unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. No attempt at manipulation will distract France from its support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression,” the ministry said in a statement with unusually strong wording.

The Russian Embassy in France did not immediately comment.

Amplified criticism

Viginum said it identified 355 domain names usurping the identities of European media outlets, including those of French daily newspapers Le Monde and Le Figaro. It said the content spread on the fake sites denigrated the Ukrainian armed forces and amplified criticism of sanctions against Russia and the impact of Ukrainian refugees on other European countries.

Screenshot from the "war on fakes" website, a Russian run internet portal the claims it debunks western reporting on the war in Ukraine. © screenshot waronfakes.com

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre said it was the first time the government has “so clearly and explicitly” attributed blame for this kind of campaign.

She said the fake ministry website was aimed at creating confusion about France's support for Ukraine and undermining democratic debate. She said the government's intervention limited the impact of the mirror site, which she described as an element of “the hybrid war that Russia is currently waging.”

v/ Qui est derrière ce réseau ? @Viginum_Gouv a révélé l'implication :

👉d’individus russes
👉de sociétés russes@Viginum_Gouv a observé la participation de plusieurs entités étatiques ou affiliées à l’État russe dans la diffusion de ces contenus

https://t.co/AkQlixxszO

— Anne-Claire Legendre (@AClaireLegendre) June 13, 2023

Viginum said the campaign has links to a sprawling disinformation network that Facebook parent Meta exposed last year, which sought to use fake social media accounts and sham news websites to spread Kremlin talking points.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, pro-Russian players have used online disinformation and conspiracy theories in an effort to weaken international support for Ukraine. Social media platforms and European governments have tried to stifle Russian propaganda and disinformation, only to see the Kremlin shift tactics.

(With agencies)