Leaked documents detail Russian cognitive strike operations in the West
A new cache of leaked files from the Russian firm Structure and Data Analysis (SDA) reveals a coordinated campaign of influence operations against Western countries, including the staging of false flag attacks and large-scale disinformation efforts. The documents, first published by the Armenian outlet Fact Investigation Platform, provide an inside look at how the Kremlin-linked company plans to deepen internal divisions in Europe and the United States. The leaks show that senior officials in the Russian presidential administration, notably Sofia Zakharova and first deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenko, oversaw funding and strategic direction. Experts have described the operations as a reckless escalation that exploits existing societal tensions over migration and religion.
False flag attacks aimed at inflaming religious tensions
Among the most striking revelations are plans for physical provocations, including the Islamophobic pig head attacks in Paris that were carried out by Serbian nationals convicted in French courts. The leaked chats indicate that the SDA orchestrated these acts to incite religious hatred between Muslims and Jews, with the goal of destabilising French society. Court verdicts cited in the documents show the same group also targeted the Jewish community by pouring green paint on Paris’ Holocaust Museum and leaving plastic skeletons near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. James Pamment, director of the Psychological Defence Research Institute at Lund University, said the operations show a clear pattern of attempting to create conflict between societal groups, warning that such tactics are particularly dangerous given Europe’s existing tensions over migration.
Disinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainian and Armenian leaders
The leaked files also describe successful disinformation operations aimed at reducing Western support for Ukraine and undermining the Armenian prime minister. One project file details a campaign claiming that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy purchased a luxury apartment in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa for his mother, a story that according to internal reports reached over 86 million views globally. Another operation falsely alleged that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan bought a villa in Marseille, garnering more than ten million views. The documents include internal acknowledgements of fact-checks that later debunked these stories, but the scale of the online spread indicates significant reach. Analysts from Hybrid CoE in Helsinki noted that the long-term effects of such operations may take years to surface, by which time countermeasures may be ineffective.
Western opinion leaders used as conduits for pro-Russian messaging
The leak shows how the SDA sought to amplify its narratives through prominent Western figures without their apparent knowledge. In one exchange, Sofia Zakharova wrote that statements from two French opinion leaders were ready, including a former general Dominique Delawarde, whose interview with TASS later predicted the war in Ukraine would end under Russian conditions. Similarly, retired US Major General Paul Vallely was used to place op-eds in Israeli media, with Sofia noting he was perceived as close to Donald Trump. Vallely told reporters he did not recall the interview and had no formal relationship with Russian entities. The documents do not indicate whether these figures were aware they were being exploited by a state-linked influence campaign.
Plans for 2026 include AI-driven tools and regional realignment
The leaked files also contain plans for 2026, including an AI-powered knowledge base targeting Germany with over 200,000 pages, and a network of websites designed to influence think tanks. A project named “Mitteleuropa” aims to dismantle the Visegrad Group by forging closer ties between Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, with the long-term goal of creating an independent bloc. Other initiatives include a Russian-language website called “Russian Wave” and a French-focused AI news project producing hundreds of videos across six social networks. The documents also reveal a database tracking nearly 10,000 opinion leader accounts on social media, highlighting the scale of the intended operation.
Security breaches and new sanctions target SDA network
The leaked chats illustrate growing concern within the SDA about security after a previous leak in 2024. Sofia demanded explanations from SDA head Ilya Gambashidze over notes taken during sensitive meetings, and later oversaw measures to physically disconnect webcams and microphones. The documents even show that Gambashidze’s movements were monitored, with one colleague informing Sofia that he had been seen less frequently in the office. Earlier this month, the United Kingdom imposed new sanctions against 49 individuals working for the SDA, including writers and video producers described as being responsible for deceptive Kremlin propaganda. The latest leak reinforces the view that Western governments must act urgently to counter these hybrid threats before their effects become irreversible.
