Russian disinformation network CopyCop expands to 300+ fake news sites
Russian disinformation network CopyCop expanded significantly in 2025, establishing over 200 new fake news and impersonation websites using AI-generated content to target the United States, Canada, France, and other countries with pro-Russian narratives designed to undermine democratic institutions.
What happened
The Russian covert influence network CopyCop, also designated as Storm-1516, significantly expanded its disinformation campaign by establishing over 200 new fictional media websites since March 2025, bringing its total to over 300 websites throughout 2025. The network functions through a coordinated infrastructure of fake media outlets, fictional fact-checking organizations, and impersonation websites designed to undermine Western democratic institutions and erode international support for Ukraine.
CopyCop websites serve dual purposes: disseminating influence content prepared by the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise and network operator John Mark Dougan, and publishing large quantities of AI-generated content featuring pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian, and anti-Western narratives. The network has expanded its geographic targeting to include Canada, Armenia, and Moldova, while sustaining established operations against the United States and France, and has diversified its linguistic reach to include Turkish, Ukrainian, and Swahili.
Reported impact
The expansion represents a marked escalation in Russian information warfare efforts targeting democratic nations with sophisticated artificial intelligence-driven content generation and increasingly polished deception tactics designed to poison the global information environment.
Index analysis
CopyCop operators register domains in coordinated batches across linked infrastructure, maintaining dormant websites that passively generate content until activated for targeted campaigns. This approach provides operational flexibility while building credibility through sustained content publication across multiple fictional media brands.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.