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Russia Turns Epstein Files Into a Disinformation Weapon Against Macron and Ukraine
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian bot network “Matryoshka” launched a widespread disinformation campaign following the release of US Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, according to The Insider on February 4.
The effort includes fabricated media content falsely implicating French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian children in connection to Epstein’s network.
As The Insider reports, researchers from the Bot Blocker project, which monitors Russian bot activity, identified a wave of coordinated fake posts on X, Telegram, and other platforms. These posts used doctored branding from major Western outlets to spread false claims, including:
A video alleging Ukrainian children became involved in Epstein’s activities after the 2014 protests, with false suggestions that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had knowledge of it.
Fake quotes attributed to actress Catherine O’Hara prior to her death on January 30, claiming Macron protected a “perversion lobby.”
False reports supposedly from France 24 suggesting that names of French officials were redacted from the Epstein files through a deal between Macron and Donald Trump.
Fabricated Reuters content claiming New Caledonia had become the “new Epstein Island,” citing false travel records for Bill Gates and Prince Andrew.
False visuals imitating Libération, Le Parisien, and La Croix, asserting Macron visited Epstein’s island 18 times while serving as economy minister.
Other fakes included forged Gallup reports on Putin’s video about “Satanism in Western elites,” and fabricated Socialblade analytics suggesting European conservatives were searching for emigration options to CIS countries.
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According to The Insider, “Matryoshka” is the name given by Bot Blocker to a Russian hybrid operation focused on spreading false narratives through bot networks, troll farms, and anonymous pseudo-media. The term refers to how the campaign layers disinformation across platforms, with bots hiding behind one another like nested dolls.
The operation is built around two core strategies. First, it involves large-scale creation of fake accounts that mimic independent regional media, research organizations, or ordinary users. These accounts publish high volumes of content, using region-specific language and stylistic cues to appear authentic.
Second, the network conducts synchronized releases of identical disinformation across platforms such as X, Telegram, BlueSky, and closed online communities. These posts often feature the logos and design elements of established Western media or human rights organizations to appear legitimate and increase user trust.
On January 30, the US Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of files, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos tied to Epstein-related investigations.
Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail in August 2019, one month after being indicted on charges related to sex trafficking and abuse of minors. His death and the scale of his connections continue to fuel conspiracy theories. The new wave of Russian disinformation appears to exploit this narrative space to target Western leaders and amplify distrust in democratic institutions.
Earlier in May 2025, Russia orchestrated another viral smear campaign against French President Emmanuel Macron by falsely claiming he concealed a bag of cocaine during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Kyiv.
The hoax, triggered by Macron discreetly removing a crumpled tissue from a table, was amplified by Kremlin officials and pro-Russian influencers, reaching tens of millions of views.
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