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Russia's Doppelgänger Operation: Disinformation Campaign Targeting Ukraine

Russia's Doppelgänger Operation: Disinformation Campaign Targeting Ukraine

First seen 23 Oct 2026, 11:12 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 23, 2026 at 12:12 UTC
  • •Doppelgänger operation disguises Russian narratives as local Ukrainian news.
  • •Key figures include Sergei Kiriyenko and Alexander Kharichev, directing disinformation strategies.
  • •The operation aims to demoralize Ukraine's military and disrupt its political cohesion.

The Russian disinformation network known as Doppelgänger has been exposed for using fake Ukrainian channels to spread misleading narratives. Launched in early 2023 under the codename 'Uganda', the operation aimed to discredit Ukraine's military and political leadership while demoralizing its population. Key figures in this operation include Sergei Kiriyenko and Alexander Kharichev, who directed the campaign's strategies. The operation utilized cloned media sites, fake accounts, and fabricated videos to disguise Russian narratives as local news. Recent hacked files reveal that the operation reported even its exposed fakes as successes to the Kremlin. The FBI had previously identified Kiriyenko as a key orchestrator in 2024. The campaign's internal briefings indicated a focus on maintaining the illusion of Ukrainian authenticity to avoid detection. The operation continues to evolve, now targeting AI chatbots for further dissemination of disinformation.

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Timeline

2023-01-01
Doppelgänger operation launched
Russia initiated the Doppelgänger disinformation campaign under the codename 'Uganda' targeting Ukraine.
Euromaidanpress
2024-01-01
FBI identifies key orchestrators
The FBI named Sergei Kiriyenko among the orchestrators of the Doppelgänger operation.
Euromaidanpress
2026-10-21
Hacked files published
The Insider published hacked correspondence revealing the structure and goals of the Doppelgänger operation.
Euromaidanpress

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Common questions

What are the main goals of the Doppelgänger operation?
The operation aims to discredit Ukraine's leadership, demoralize its military, and disrupt public cohesion.
How does the operation disguise its Russian origins?
It uses cloned media sites and fake accounts to present Russian narratives as local Ukrainian news.
Who are the key individuals behind this operation?
Key figures include Sergei Kiriyenko and Alexander Kharichev, who direct the campaign's strategies.