Russian bot network Matrioșka targets Moldova with AI deepfakes
Russian bot network Matrioșka reportedly deployed AI-generated deepfake videos in April 2025 to target Moldovan President Maia Sandu and the country, impersonating international media and university professors to spread disinformation about alleged electoral fraud, political repression, and untraditional values.
What happened
The Russian disinformation network Matrioșka launched its first campaign targeting Moldova on 19 April 2025, distributing AI-generated deepfake videos on X and Bluesky platforms.
The videos impersonate international media institutions and universities, including a fake VIGINUM (French state service against disinformation) report claiming 1 million dollars per day was spent on propaganda videos supporting Maia Sandu. One deepfake in French impersonates a French university professor accusing Sandu of political repression for arresting Gagauzia governor Evghenia Guțul on suspicion of vote-buying and illegal financing of the pro-Kremlin Șor party.
Reported impact
The campaign accuses President Maia Sandu of winning elections through propaganda and currently repressing opponents. The videos also discuss Sandu's LGBT identity as part of Kremlin narratives about 'non-traditional values' replacing 'traditional values' in Moldova.
Former Anti-Corruption Prosecutor General Veronica Dragalin is mentioned in some videos, which falsely quote her as promising to send evidence of Sandu's bribery and electoral fraud to 300 European media institutions and display a fabricated cover of French magazine La Tribune.
Index analysis
The Bot Blocker project identified the Matrioșka campaign. The Insider reported that a deepfake falsely attributed to VIGINUM claimed spending of 1 million dollars per day to generate and distribute propaganda videos supporting Sandu on TikTok.
The campaign echoes narratives from Matrioșka's previous operations and follows similar operations in Romania, where far-right presidential candidate Călin Georgescu was accused of manipulation through TikTok with Russian assistance, resulting in annulment of the first round.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.