Fact check: How Russia tries to influence US midterm elections

Silja Thoms

Fake videos show Hollywood celebrities denouncing the Democratic Party in the United States. Researchers say the clips are part of the Russian-linked Matryoshka disinformation campaign. Here’s how that operation works.

Ahead of the US midterm elections, a wave of fake videos is circulating online in which well known Hollywood actors or public figures seem to turn on the Democratic Party. None of them are real. Researchers trace the clips to Matryoshka, a Russian-linked disinformation campaign. DW Fact check breaks down how the Matryoshka campaign works, who’s likely behind it and what its aims are.

Silja Thoms stands and smiles as she looks into the camera.
Silja Thoms stands and smiles as she looks into the camera.

Silja Thoms Senior Editor and Reporter

Edited by:Uta Steinwehr, Sarah Steffen, Josh Axelrod

Click here for video short :

https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-how-russia-tries-to-influence-us-midterm-elections/video-79830988

10 comments

  1. As Jake Broe has stated, there are literally millions of maga imbeciles who hate Ukraine.
    The reason is obvious: Trump himself, the assholes he hires for his regime, his vile son and the magaputler media.
    Check out this fucking halfwit :

  2. Shaun Pinner :

    The Belgian Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, has resigned, one of the biggest obstacles to using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine 🇺🇦

  3. Aaron Parnas :

    Big news: Democrats prepare to wage war on Elon Musk, investigate every nook and cranny. Senator Warren outlines all of Trump’s corruption for me.

    European freezers hit with massive cyber attack. Trump ends his campaign “tired” at his algae filled pool.

  4. Andrew Chakhoyan :

    Oh, FFS! 🤦🏻‍♂️

    russian gas is inseparable from russian corruption.

    russian gas in Europe = eroded solidarity, weakened security, vulnerability to blackmail.

    🇺🇸 rightly opposed Nord Stream for years and now proposes reviving the very dependence it spent decades warning Europe against.

    Have we learned NOTHING?

    Gift 🎁 link https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-pushes-to-restore-russian-gas-sales-to-europe-via-ukraine-0ca62dc7?st=qCsMso

  5. Georgi Revishvili :

    President Zelenskyy just now:

    We have intel that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on our country – primarily targeting energy and logistics.

    The assumption is basically that tomorrow the world will be watching the American midterms, and what is happening here in Ukraine, along with our difficulties with air defense and Patriot missiles, will be overlooked.

    We need signals from the world to Russia that will make them feel that terror is no good, that it will bring no gains, and that as long as this war continues, their oil will burn, and they will not be able to make money doing business with the world.

    We must not play games with Russia’s oil or gas revenues. We must put pressure on Russia in such a way that it has no alternative but to end this war. America can do this.

    ***

  6. Giorgi Revishvili :

    Admiral Rob Bauer, former NATO Military Committee chair, to Ukraine:

    Destroy the factories that build Russia’s drones before the drones reach Ukraine.

    Keep hitting Russian army logistics, oil refineries, airbases, railways and troops. Reduce Russia’s chances of success and increase its losses.

    International humanitarian law allows Ukraine to strike the enemy on its own territory to limit its ability to wage war.

    Ukraine must remain sovereign, choosing the size of its armed forces and which alliances to join.

    Any peace deal must deter Russia from attacking again. Ukraine alone must decide what those guarantees look like.

    ***

    Please remember to subscribe and support my Substack – Russia Analyzed – for the latest insights and analysis on Russian foreign and security policy and the war against Ukraine. tinyurl.com/y6tjazyb

  7. Andrew Chakhoyan :

    Day after day russian fascist forces murder civilians. Massacre innocent children.

    This horror will engulf all of Europe if the Moscow-centered terrorist organization is not stopped in Ukraine!

    The world MUST STOP taking 🇺🇦’s courage for granted! It’s been 12 long years since russia invaded. Ukraine is fighting alone while the allies are drip-feeding aid.

    https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/29/8060223/index.amp

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