{
  "id": 19532504,
  "title": "Russia’s Matryoshka bot network launches new campaign ahead of Spanish general election",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/russias-matryoshka-bot-network-launches-new-campaign-ahead-of-spanish",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T18:04:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/news/299427"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russia's Matryoshka bot network has initiated a fresh disinformation effort in preparation for Spain's unexpected parliamentary elections on November 29. The bots are spreading false narratives about Europe's economic decline due to Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions, asserting that elections can't improve the situation. Their solutions include Spain exiting the EU, lifting anti-Russian sanctions, and Catalan independence. Researchers from the AntiBot4Navalny project reported on the campaign to The Insider. The bots are spreading videos mimicking major news outlets' reports, along with fake covers of French publications, all promoting the same message: support for Ukraine has led Europe into an economic crisis, and a change of government won't help unless Russia sanctions are lifted. The campaign focuses on Spain's housing crisis, using videos and images to claim that reforms failed, housing is unaffordable, and rental market restrictions indicate a deep economic crisis. These claims are linked to anti-Russian sanctions and Ukrainian support. Another theme is the alleged futility of elections, with a video stating that 71% of Europeans don't believe they can improve their socioeconomic situation. The bots also propose Catalonia's secession and Spain leaving the EU to resist Brussels' policies. Matryoshka's organizers are the same as those behind the Kremlin's Doppelgänger operation, led by Sergei Kiriyenko and Ilya Gambashidze. They have been producing fake video reports in Western media names since 2022, aiming to persuade Europeans to oppose sanctions against Russia.",
  "summary": "Russia’s Matryoshka bot network has launched a new disinformation campaign ahead of Spain’s snap parliamentary elections, scheduled for Nov. 29. The bots are spreading claims that European economies are supposedly collapsing because of aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, and that elections cannot change the situation for the better. Instead, the solutions offered by the bots include…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}