Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Pro-Kremlin Ecosystems in Europe

The report identifies a highly interlinked ecosystem on Telegram where pro-Kremlin narratives permeate conspiracy and radical communities in Europe. It finds that while pro-Kremlin and conspiracy groups are strongly connected across France, Germany, and Italy, the level of interaction with far-right groups varies by country, being stronger in France and Germany than in Italy. The study highlights the role of Russian state-affiliated channels and influencers, such as Alina Lipp, in bridging ideological divides and amplifying disinformation, particularly regarding the Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19.

• Pro-Kremlin and conspiracy communities across France, Germany, and Italy are highly interlinked, with 77% of conspiracy channels interacting with the pro-Kremlin community studied.
• Interaction between pro-Kremlin and far-right groups is more pronounced in France and Germany than in Italy, where the far-right community is more isolated and primarily engages with other far-right factions.
• Russian state-affiliated channels are highly influential across the three countries; of the 20 most influential channels, 10 were pro-Kremlin, including the Russian Ministry of Defence in English, RIA, and Ukraina.ru.
• Certain pro-Kremlin figures have successfully bridged political divides; for example, Alina Lipp's channel was among the most shared by both the German far-right and the far-left.
• Pro-Kremlin narratives have permeated radical and conspiracy communities, specifically through claims that exaggerate Western responsibility for the Russia-Ukraine war, unfounded allegations of US biolabs in Ukraine, and the assertion that Ukraine is ruled by a neo-Nazi regime.
• The Russia-Ukraine war was a dominant topic across all categories, with a significant shared subtheme focusing on Western and NATO responsibility for the conflict.
• In Italy, Eurasianism and Dugin-affiliated channels act as a 'glue' between the pro-Kremlin and far-right communities, reflecting Aleksandr Dugin's appeal to both groups.
• The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for the growth of disinformation communities, which later became receptive amplifiers for pro-Kremlin propaganda during the war in Ukraine.

APA

Institute for Strategic Dialogue (2025). Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Pro-Kremlin Ecosystems in Europe. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Behind-the-curtain-Unveiling-pro-Kremlin-ecosystems-in-Europe.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Pro-Kremlin Ecosystems in Europe. 2025. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Behind-the-curtain-Unveiling-pro-Kremlin-ecosystems-in-Europe.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Strategic Dialogue |title=Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Pro-Kremlin Ecosystems in Europe |date=2025 |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Behind-the-curtain-Unveiling-pro-Kremlin-ecosystems-in-Europe.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforstrategicdialogue2025behind, author = {{Institute for Strategic Dialogue}}, title = {{Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Pro-Kremlin Ecosystems in Europe}}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Behind-the-curtain-Unveiling-pro-Kremlin-ecosystems-in-Europe.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }