
Austria’s intelligence agency revealed on Monday that it had uncovered what it called a Russian-led 'disinformation campaign' targeting the country and other German-speaking nations, including Germany and Austria. According to the Directorate for State Protection and Intelligence (DSN), the campaign, which was traced back to a cell operating under Russian intelligence, began shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The operation primarily aimed to spread false narratives and fake news to undermine public trust in institutions and disrupt social cohesion. Austrian State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried emphasized the danger posed by such efforts, stating, “The spread of false narratives, fake news, and manipulative content undermines trust in our institutions and endangers social cohesion.”
Espionage Investigation and Arrest
The DSN’s investigation led to a significant breakthrough in December, when agents seized data storage devices during a raid on the home of a Bulgarian woman. She admitted to her involvement in the Russian disinformation operation, which had masqueraded as a pro-Ukrainian group but was actually designed to damage the reputation of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The group employed both online methods and physical tactics, including graffiti and stickers, to spread its messages.
The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, is suspected of playing a key role in the campaign, distributing disinformation across Austria and Germany, and serving as a liaison between Russian intelligence operatives and accomplices in the UK. She has since been released on bail, but remains under investigation for espionage activities related to the Russian government.
Broader Implications
The discovery of the disinformation cell highlights ongoing concerns over foreign influence operations in Europe. Leichtfried called for an expansion of the DSN's protective capabilities, noting the heightened security risks posed by such activities.
This incident follows a year after Austria’s most significant espionage scandal in decades, which involved the arrest of a former intelligence officer suspected of providing sensitive information to Russian operatives.