AI-driven disinformation campaigns target Ukraine and Europe in 2025
European authorities documented 540 information manipulation campaigns in 2025, with 147 involving AI tools and Ukraine as the primary target. Russian actors used artificial intelligence to accelerate content creation and scale operations at lower cost, with approximately 30% of incidents attributed to Russia.
What happened
The European External Action Service recorded 540 information manipulation incidents in 2025, with 147 involving artificial intelligence tools. Ukraine was the primary target with 112 documented cases.
Russian actors used AI tools to create content more rapidly, scale campaigns, and reach broader audiences at lower cost. Approximately 30% of identified interventions were attributed to Russia, while significant sources remained unattributed but analysts linked them to Russian influence networks.
Reported impact
Ukraine, France, Moldova, Germany, and the United States experienced disinformation campaigns. Russian intelligence services also deployed a large-scale cyber campaign against Signal and WhatsApp users, targeting government officials, military personnel, and journalists with high intelligence value through sophisticated phishing attacks impersonating security services.
Index analysis
The Disinformation Counter Centre noted that information manipulation has become a key tool of Russian hybrid warfare against Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in 2022. AI-driven operations tripled compared to the previous year.
Governance controls
The Disinformation Counter Centre and European External Action Service documented and tracked the campaigns. Experts expect operations to increase further in 2026.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.