February 13, 2026

Russia’s Channel One airs fake front pages spread by Matryoshka bot network for the first time

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Russia’s Channel One airs fake front pages spread by Matryoshka bot network for the first time

TL;DR

  • Russian state TV channel "Vremya Pokazhet" aired fake front pages of French newspapers Libération and Le Parisien.
  • The fabricated covers, which criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky, were presented as genuine.
  • Analysis by the Bot Blocker project identified the "Matryoshka" bot network as the source of these fake covers.
  • The fake covers were spread through a coordinated network of accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram before appearing on state television.
  • This marks an escalation in propaganda tactics, with fake visual materials being used on major state media.
  • The Matryoshka operation, active since at least September 2023, is known for distributing anti-Ukrainian content.
  • French agency Viginum noted similarities between Matryoshka and the Doppelgänger operation, suggesting possible links to Russian intelligence.

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