Russian jet-powered drones the latest ‘horror’ faced by Ukraine
In terms of air defence, analysts say the new drones more closely resemble a cruise missile than a conventional drone
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.
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- Ukraine war latest: Russia's deadline to capture Donbas slips yet again kyivindependent.com
- Russia's Matryoshka bots target initiative to provide 5,000 drones for Ukraine, falsely claiming that Germany is embezzling the money theins.press
- Missiles or mediation? Trump envoys shuttle between Russia and Ukraine france24.com
