Maia Sandu, the target of a pro-Kremlin campaign: False images with “execution”, spread online
A network of pro-Kremlin boots has launched an aggressive campaign on social networks against the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, using tricked images and false news.
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, the target of a pro-Kremlin campaign: Facebook
Starting April 16, a network of boots called Matrioşka has distributed on Twitter and Bluesky platforms falsified images depicting violent scenes with the “execution” of Maia Sandu. In their posts, the bulls announced that “June 1 will be put” on June 1. However, it is not clear what should have happened that day.
The campaign did not stop here. In another false news, it was claimed that Maia Sandu, through the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, would have been involved in an alleged sale of Ukrainian refugees. The authors of misinformation invoked a “Anonymous Polish activist“And an article on the site life.ru-a known source for pro-Kremlin propaganda.
Campaign similar to that of Germany
A distinenting researcher, known online as “Antibot4navalny”, the founder of the Bot Blocker account, identified this campaign and compared it with a similar operation carried out by the Storm-1516 group in Germany, before the 2025 elections. According to one hundred pseudo-science sites were involved in the German campaign.
Although there is no direct evidence that the Storm-1516 is also behind the attacks against Maia Sandu, analysts notes the use of the same tactics: false sources, invented witnesses, articles published in English, content generated by artificial intelligence and promotion through obscure platforms such as the fund for combating repression.
According to The Insider, this fund has no legal status, and his leader, Mira Tera, would have links with other pro-Kremlin organizations.
Matrioşka Boys: More than Propaganda
In another report, AFP, citing data offered by “Antibot4navalny”, reported on the Matrioşka network. These boots not only distribute misinformation in the classic pro-Kremlin style, but went on: Western journalists directly contacted and asked them to investigate certain false materials, in order to validate and spread further.
Presidential Administration denies rumors
In front of the wave of forgeries, the administration of President Maia Sandu was forced to react. Recently, they denied another false news, published on Telegram channels, stating that the president would have a wardrobe with expensive clothes.
