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DW Fact check: How Russian disinformation seeks to manipulate regional German elections

Modernghana • August 4, 2026

"Matryoshka," or "Operation Overload," uses fake videos mimicking German media to spread disinformation ahead of key regional elections and overwhelm fact-checkers.

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The full story

This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.

Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets German Elections with 180+ Fake Posts A Russian disinformation operation known as Matryoshka is actively targeting candidates in the upcoming German state elections, scheduled for September 2026. The campaign has produced over 180 fake posts across social media platforms including X, Bluesky, and TikTok, falsely accusing candidates of serious crimes and scandals. Key target Eric Stehr, a candidate for the socialist Left party, has been falsely implicated in murder and other criminal activities. The disinformation is designed to appear as if it originates from reputable German media outlets. The operation has been ongoing since September 2023 and aims to discredit political figures and exacerbate divisions between eastern and western Germany. Experts note that the campaign's impact appears limited, with many posts receiving views but little genuine engagement. The police have confirmed that there are no investigations against Stehr or other targeted candidates. 21 sources 57

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Campaigns (2)

Matryoshka Operation Overload