Russia's Matryoshka bots target initiative to provide 5,000 drones for Ukraine, falsely claiming that Germany is embezzling the money

The Russian Matryoshka bot network has launched a new disinformation campaign against a German-Ukrainian initiative to produce 5,000 long-range drones, falsely claiming that Germany is embezzling funds intended for Ukraine. The bots have created five fake videos, posing as reports from reputable sources such as the Financial Times, Handelsblatt, Bloomberg, Politico, and The Economist.

All five videos claim that the drone production will be located in a residential area in eastern Germany, posing a threat to the population, and that Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stolen €700 million from the Ukraine aid program. The bots also falsely claim that only a small financial department in central Munich will remain, while the actual production facility will be hidden in a residential area.

They falsely attribute quotes to high-ranking German officials, alleging that Merz stole money for his own contracting companies and that Merkel knows about his plans. Additionally, the bots falsely claim that Sweden is financing Merz's fraudulent activities and that Ukraine will cease to exist by the end of 2027.