Russia Spends Billions on Disinformation to Target Germany’s Bundestag Election

Potential threats to the Bundestag election on February 23 have emerged, attributed to Russian interference and sabotage. A January 23 article in BILD cites intelligence analyses indicating that Russian operatives spent €2 billion for disinformation campaigns last year, with a similar budget expected for this year.

Russia is reportedly operating a vast network of hundreds of thousands of fake accounts, designed to mimic real users, which have been used to post millions of messages targeting and defaming German politicians.

According to the outlet, the efforts include fake media websites, fabricated news portals, image macros, and short videos. These tools are being used to stir up government critics and pro-Putin supporters within parties like AfD and BSW, inflaming debates and spreading discord.

Former President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, stated during a Bundestag hearing: “Russia is using its entire toolkit—from influencing domestic political discussions to cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and even sabotage.”

On October 14, 2024, Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser raised concerns over the growing threat posed by Russian sabotage activities in the country.

Over the past year, numerous acts of sabotage linked to Russia have been confirmed by EU authorities. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský reported on December 4, 2024, that Russia is believed to be connected to nearly 100 incidents across Europe in 2024, categorized as hybrid attacks, espionage, or influence operations.