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Russian ‘Matryoshka’ disinformation network has entered Hungarian election campaign
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Investigators have uncovered a new wave of disinformation linked to a Russian bot network that is exploiting tensions between Hungary and Ukraine. The campaign spreads fabricated stories and manipulated videos bearing the logos of well-known Western media outlets.
Fake news campaign targets Hungarian audiences
An investigative collaboration between the Russian opposition outlet The Insider and the Bot Blocker project has identified a coordinated disinformation campaign operating on social media, investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi reported on his Facebook page. According to the researchers, the operation relies on fake videos designed to look like reports from reputable Western organisations.
These materials circulate widely on online platforms and promote several interconnected narratives, many of which involve Hungary or Hungarian interests.
The aim, investigators say, is to generate confusion and manipulate public perception by flooding the information space with misleading or entirely fabricated claims.
Fabricated incidents and statements
Among the stories circulating online are several incidents that never occurred.
One widely shared claim alleges that a Ukrainian refugee named Denys Nikolaychuk was arrested in France after attempting to throw a homemade grenade onto the grounds of the Hungarian embassy in Paris. According to the false narrative, the suspect was released after ten hours because police could not prove he had brought the explosive device with him. Investigators say the entire incident is fictional.
Another fabricated report claims that a human rights organisation documented more than a thousand attacks by Ukrainian refugees against Hungarian citizens across several European countries. A video carrying the logos of Euronews and Human Rights Watch presents the story as a legitimate report, although no such investigation exists.
Other manipulated videos falsely suggest that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insulted Hungarians or that his alleged threats against Hungary were damaging his reputation among European leaders. Some clips even attribute invented quotes to supposed analysts or journalists.
How the “Matryoshka” network operates
According to Bot Blocker, the accounts spreading the material belong to a coordinated network known as Matryoshka, named after the traditional Russian nesting dolls.
The operation works through layers of bots, trolls and anonymous profiles that amplify the same narratives across multiple platforms. By copying the visual identity of trusted news organisations, the campaign attempts to make fabricated content appear credible.
Researchers say the network also uses artificial intelligence tools and deepfake techniques to produce fake interviews and videos in which public figures appear to say things they never actually said.
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Similar campaigns seen in other elections
The same network has previously been linked to disinformation efforts around elections in Moldova and German regional elections.
Analysts note that Matryoshka bears similarities to other Russian influence operations, such as the campaign known as “Doppelgänger”. Some experts believe these activities may be connected to Russian military intelligence structures.
The real people of Hungary know their own decisions, no outside influences will change their minds, not the far left, 1956 is still alive. ♥️🤍💚
About time. Brussels’ propagandists have been working here intensively for months already.
Exactly, Dear Michael!
🤒🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣
🤥😴😴😴😴
Many Hungarians are suckers for Russian disinformation. The typical hook is to appeal to Hungarian nationalism and some sort of grievance to drive anti-EU, anti-Western and pro-Fidesz narratives. If Hungarians fall for it and again reelect Fidesz the future will be quite bleak. Hungarians will bring more misery upon themselves as they already have for so many years with this mafia government.
DW put out an excellent article on Russian involvement in the Fidesz campaign with information from Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi of Vsquare attached.
https://www.dw.com/en/russia-working-to-tip-scale-for-orban-in-hungary-election/a-76349043
‘Russian ‘Matryoshka’ disinformation network has entered Hungarian election campaign.’
Where have they been for so long?
The disinformation network of The Western Elite has been already working on Hungarians for years, already.
My ears are ringing with all the speeches Toroczkai László has given about EU election meddling.
@Mouton – speeches and rallies of Toroczkai László should send your ears ringing. Or running for the hills. He caters specifically to voters who believe that ethnicity and race should be central factors in government policy. Lovely.
You clearly know very little about the real views of Toroczkai and Mi Hazánk Norbert!
Not just in Hungary:
In recent weeks, Russian social networks have been actively spreading the idea of creating the so-called “People’s Republic of Narva,” a city in eastern Estonia located on the border with Russia. The population of Narva is about 50 thousand people, and about 90% of the residents are Russian-speaking.
The German edition Bild reports that the Estonian security services believe that such an information campaign may be an attempt to prepare the ground for possible destabilization of the region. In their opinion, such a scenario is reminiscent of the events of spring 2014 in Ukraine, when “people’s republics” were proclaimed in a number of Russian-speaking regions with the support of Russian special services and local collaborators.
Then such structures were able to gain a foothold only in Donetsk and Lugansk – after direct intervention of the Russian military and prolonged hostilities, as a result of which more than 12,000 people were killed.
Since the beginning of March, messages have been appearing on Telegram, VKontakte and other social networks urging residents to distribute leaflets, commit acts of sabotage and arm themselves to proclaim the “Narva People’s Republic” and oppose the Estonian government. Some publications also mention support from the Russian military.
Slogans such as “Russians, we are not alone!” and “Russian land stretches from Narva to Püssi” spread calls for armed struggle. Maps of the alleged “republic” are published online, as well as images of green-black-and-white flags. Some videos show masked people against the background of these flags calling for “acting together.”
Estonian Security Police (Kapo) spokeswoman Marta Tuule said such publications are part of a disinformation campaign.
She said the purpose of such messages is to sow fear, cause confusion and divide society. Tuule emphasized that similar methods have already been used in Estonia and other countries.
She also warned that participation in such actions could lead to criminal liability.
The newspaper’s sources in Estonian intelligence say that the campaign could have been launched not by chance now, against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East. In their opinion, it cannot be completely ruled out that such information activity may be part of preparations for a possible destabilization scenario similar to the events in Ukraine in 2014.