Russia’s Disinformation Campaign Targets Ukraine at the Winter Olympics

A coordinated Russian disinformation campaign is actively targeting Ukrainian athletes and supporters during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The operation, known as Matryoshka, aims to discredit Ukraine and undermine international support, employing tactics such as fabricating news reports and manipulating online content.

Methods of Disinformation

The disinformation campaign utilizes a range of deceptive strategies, including:

• Fabricated News Stories: Creating and disseminating false news reports about Ukrainian athletes and visitors.
• Digital Manipulation: Altering existing news content, such as a Reuters story about skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, to include false claims.
• Impersonation: Using impersonation tactics, referencing the Russian nesting doll “Matryoshka,” to spread disinformation.
• False Accusations: Spreading claims of toxic behavior, doping, and defection among Ukrainian team members.
• Exploiting Social Media: Distributing disinformation across multiple platforms, including X (formerly Twitter).

Targets of the Campaign

Several Ukrainian athletes and individuals associated with the Winter Olympics have been specifically targeted:

• Vladyslav Heraskevych: The Ukrainian skeleton racer was the subject of false claims regarding his brother’s alleged recruitment of soldiers and a fabricated incident involving a Hungarian athlete. Source
• Ukrainian Team Members: False stories circulated alleging separate housing due to “toxic” behavior and the use of “psychoactive substances.”
• Ukraine Supporters: A fake video falsely claimed that rapper Snoop Dogg, covering the games for NBC, refused a photo with the Ukrainian team due to alleged “Nazism” within the Ukrainian army. Source
• Translators: Claims were made that 52 Ukrainian translators had abandoned their posts.

Impact and Response

Even as the individual impact of these fake stories has been limited, their collective effect is intended to erode support for Ukraine. Ukraine’s center for countering disinformation has accused Russia of attempting to discredit Ukrainians and undermine international backing. Matviy Bidny, Ukraine’s sports minister, stated that Russia is trying to discredit Ukrainians and undermine international support for Ukraine. Source

Experts like Darren Linvill from Clemson University note that Russia has employed similar tactics for years to sway Western opinion against Ukraine, and the Olympics provide a new audience for these efforts. Source

Operation Matryoshka

The disinformation operation, known as Matryoshka, has been tracked for several years. Little is currently known about the operation’s origins, leadership, or potential links to the Kremlin, but investigations are ongoing. Source

Broader Context

This disinformation campaign is part of a larger pattern of Russian interference, as highlighted by NewsGuard, which details an avalanche of false claims targeting Ukraine and Ukrainians during the Winter Olympics. Source