“Storm-1516 operation”. How the Republic of Moldova is attacked by an organization founded by Prigojin

Starting from June until now, the Republic of Moldova has been the target of an operation in which sites with AI manufacturing sites, anonymous accounts on social networks and political influences aligned to Russia's interests were used, according to a report of the Alliance4europe anti-defrorting network, taken over by the Guard newspaper.

Storm-1516 is a Russian influence operation that focuses on disseminating false news, often through manufactured websites and clones. These news is initially spread by pro-rhine influencers, anonymous accounts of “news” and accounts of parodies/fans.

The main objective of Storm-1516 traditionally proved to be the discredit of Ukraine and undermining the European and Western support for the country, while directing these countries and their leaders, especially during the electoral periods, according to the Alliance4europe report. This NGO, according to its own site, “operates a network to identify and defend against misinformation threats and to allow a scalable collaboration with those who want to defend European democracy.”

The campaign against the Republic of Moldova is closely linked to the Russian organization “Foundation for Combating injustice” (R-FBI), founded in 2021 by the Russian oligarch Evgheni Prigojin. Prior to his death, in August 2023, Prigojin was involved in organizing and financing influence operations in Russia and abroad.

He founded a winch farm called the “Internet Research Agency”, and the available information shows that some of the people involved in R-FBI have previously worked for the Internet Research Agency. R-FBI presents itself as an NGO for human rights, but in practice it works to generate “legitimacy for Russian propaganda and recruits disposed allies”, according to researchers at Clemson University.

An operation similar to the one now was carried out earlier this year and in Germany, where elections were held in February.

The Storm-1516 operation, attack on the power of Moldova before the elections

“The researchers have now observed behavioral models compatible with the fact that Storm-1516 concerns the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova,” the authors of the report write.

The analysis of the studied content shows that it focuses on undermining the support for the Republic of Moldova among the Western public and attacks the ruling party, in particular, on the president Maia Sandu.

“It happens through a series of false narratives, such as (false accusations) political corruption, political repression, judicial corruption, pedophilia and identity-based discrimination. Crucially, the political angles presented in the content vary greatly from the left to the right to the right, but all serve at the Government of Moldova Western in general, ”the report says.

How was misinformation amplified

The Storm-1516 content is amplified by a series of non -authentic websites, supported by content based on artificial intelligence generated in mass, which are presented as legitimate, and is distributed by a network of key influences and accounts. Some of these accounts are false, giving themselves to individuals and real journalists, while some key amplifiers are real, pro-Russian influences.

The operation is based on a set of socializing accounts that systematically amplify the Storm-1516 and R-FBI articles.

Some are known Russian collaborators, while others are anonymous accounts that are presented as news sites. Fan accounts for famous political figures, such as Ivanka Trump, have also been used to systematically spread the content to millions of followers.

Photo: © Hollyharryoz | Dreamstime.com