Examples of fake publications. Photo: The Insider and AntiBot4Navalny
The Kremlin bot network “Matryoshka” began spreading a series of fake videos and publications about American biolabs in Ukraine after a statement by former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The Insider was informed of this by the AntiBot4Navalny project, which specializes in identifying disinformation campaigns.
The trigger was Gabbard’s publications: before leaving office, she said she had “declassified” data on U.S. funding for more than 120 biolabs in 30 countries, including Ukraine. The attached file claimed that Ukraine has at least 40 such laboratories where work was conducted with pathogens causing tuberculosis, plague, Ebola, and so on.
Before leaving office, the U.S. intelligence chief said she had declassified the truth about U.S. biolabs in other countries
She said nothing new, but once again supported one of Russia’s main justifications for the war in Ukraine
After that, “Matryoshka” released at least six videos disguised as Western media outlets and organizations, including The Insider, Deutsche Welle, Politico, and Reporters Without Borders. These materials claimed that France was allegedly testing medicines on Ukrainian orphans, and compared Gabbard’s statement to the revelation of the truth about Nazi Germany’s concentration camps. Front pages of major print publications were also forged, including those of The Guardian, Le Figaro, and The Globe and Mail.
The topic of “biolabs” in Ukraine has long been used by Russian propaganda. At the same time, the laboratories in question are part of international programs to monitor disease outbreaks, and U.S. participation in funding them was not a secret.