The invention follows the detention of a Bulgarian lady accused of spying for the Kremlin in December.
The Kremlin deployed a disinformation marketing campaign concentrating on Ukraine and sparking pro-Russian sentiment throughout German-speaking international locations, Austrian authorities revealed on Monday.
The investigation confirmed {that a} cell working for Russian intelligence was arrange shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
It supposed to affect public opinion towards Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, each on-line and on the bottom largely in Austria, by utilizing far-right and nationalist stickers and graffiti, which it claimed pro-Ukrainian activists have been behind.
“The direct objective of this disinformation cell was to make use of focused actions within the context of the conflict to negatively affect public opinion towards Ukraine … thereby producing – at a better degree – pro-Russian sentiment,” an announcement from Austria’s home intelligence company mentioned.
The company mentioned it found the operation because it analysed gadgets belonging to a Bulgarian citizen detained in December on suspicion of spying for the Kremlin.
The girl, who has not been named thus far, is suspected of taking part in a “important” position within the marketing campaign: distributing content material in each Germany and Austria and appearing as a contact for Russian intelligence for accomplices in Russia and the UK.
She has admitted to working for the cell and has been launched on bail, based on Austria’s Press Company.
