A London-based think tank has reported that hundreds of English-language websites, ranging from major news sources to obscure blogs, are linking to articles from a pro-Kremlin network that is spreading disinformation online.
The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) study revealed that over 80% of the citations it examined treated the network as a credible source, thereby validating its messages and boosting its reach. This disinformation campaign, known as the Pravda network, was identified by the French government last year.
ISD warned that by linking to these articles, websites are unintentionally increasing the chances that search engines and large language models (LLMs) will display the pages, even when the linking sites are challenging the network’s credibility.
Security experts have recently raised concerns that Russia is attempting to influence AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini by feeding them large amounts of disinformation, a tactic referred to as “LLM grooming.”
Although the Pravda network has existed since 2014, researchers monitoring its activity note a significant increase in output this year. In May, it published up to 23,000 articles daily, compared to around 6,000 per day in 2024.
The network now seems to be targeting a global audience, focusing on countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation expert who recently addressed the UK parliament on threats to democracy, stated, “The Pravda network has been expanding rapidly over the past year. They are targeting multiple languages and aiming to establish a presence in numerous countries.”
The reason for this surge is unclear, but some experts speculate it may be an effort to inject pro-Russia content into the training data of AI models, which rely on vast amounts of internet-sourced information.
Earlier studies this year indicated that popular chatbots sometimes repeated Russian disinformation, such as claims that the U.S. was developing bioweapons in Ukraine or that France was sending mercenaries to Kyiv.
ISD researchers assert that, regardless of whether LLMs have been compromised, the Pravda network’s high-volume approach is proving effective.
Joseph Bodnar, a senior researcher at ISD, explained, “More than any other Russia-aligned operation, the Pravda network is playing a numbers game. They’ve saturated the internet enough to reach real people researching Russia-related topics.”
The study found that 40% of the Pravda content picked up by mainstream websites related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while the rest covered topics like U.S. domestic policy or Elon Musk. These articles have also appeared on social media platforms.
Bodnar added, “This affected many reputable and less reputable sources across the ideological spectrum, touching every part of the web we examined.”
Jankowicz cautioned that the Pravda network’s growing legitimacy poses a significant threat.As media attention on Ukraine wanes, Russia could exploit this void to dominate the narrative. With fewer updates coming from Ukraine, Russia’s perspective might quickly become the primary source of information, which could then be widely referenced in large language models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about proKremlin propaganda on Englishlanguage websites designed to be clear concise and helpful for a range of readers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is proKremlin propaganda
Its information often biased or misleading that is spread to promote the Russian governments political goals and to create a positive view of its actions especially regarding its war in Ukraine
2 Why are Englishlanguage websites sharing this
To influence public opinion in Englishspeaking countries By shaping what people in the West read online they aim to create doubt reduce support for Ukraine and build sympathy for Russias position
3 How can I spot this kind of propaganda
Look for common signs overly simplistic explanations of complex events consistent blaming of the West for all problems claims of Nazis controlling Ukraine without credible evidence and websites that look like real news but have a clear onesided agenda
4 Is all of it fake news
Not always It often mixes some factual elements with falsehoods exaggerations or crucial omissions This halftruth strategy makes the overall message seem more believable
5 Whats the main goal of this propaganda
Its primary goals are to justify the war in Ukraine weaken international support for Ukraine divide Western nations like the US and Europe and present Russia as a powerful and morally justified country
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What are some common narratives or themes used
Common narratives include The West is provoking Russia Ukraine is a corrupt Nazi state The war is a fight against NATO expansion and Western sanctions are hurting you not Russia
7 Arent these just alternative viewpoints Whats the harm
While healthy debate is good propaganda is different It actively spreads disinformation to manipulate people and justify a war of aggression The harm includes public confusion eroded trust in real journalism and prolonged conflict that costs lives
8 Can you give an example of a sophisticated propaganda tactic
A key tactic is whataboutism When confronted with Russian actions the response is But what about This deflects criticism by changing the subject and creating a false moral equivalence
