UK claims Russia using 'sick troll factory' to promote misinformation on Ukraine war

“Sick Russian troll factory” based out of an old arms factory in St Petersburg are “plaguing” social media by targeting world leers and promoting “propaganda” of Vlimir Putin ministration, claimed UK Foreign Office on Saturday, citing research. British Foreign Office stated that online operatives were found to be ordering followers to target western media outlets and politicians. research cited by office was funded by PM Boris Johnson-led government.

UK Foreign Office said, “ research exposes how Kremlin’s large-scale disinformation campaign is designed to manipulate international public opinion of Russia’s illegitimate war in Ukraine, trying to grow support for ir abhorrent war and recruiting new Putin sympathisers.”

“Sick masterminds of operation are believed to be working overtly from an old factory in St Petersburg, with paid employees, and internal working teams,” it ded.

“troll factory” is suspected to be linked to founder of Internet Research Agency, Yevgeny Prigozhin. This same agency was accused of interfering in 2016 US Presidential election which saw victory of ex-POTUS Donald Trump. IRA hequarters is allegedly located in St Petersburg’s Arsenal Machine-building Factory, which is a company that manufactures military equipment and technology.

targets of “cyber soldiers” based in Russia are spre in countries including UK, South Africa and India, Office said. Guardian stated that targets were social media accounts of UK PM Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. 

It has also been revealed that Russia used Telegram “to actively recruit and co-ordinate new supporters who n target social media profiles of Kremlin critics - spamming m with pro-Putin and pro-war comments. Targets include senior UK ministers’ social media accounts, alongside or world leers.”

UK Foreign Secy calls it an ‘insidious attempt’

In a statement decrying Russia’s “troll factory” following research, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss stated, “se are insidious attempts by Putin and his propaganda machine to deceive world about brutality he’s inflicting on people of Ukraine. This evidence will help us to more effectively identify and remove Russian disinformation and follows our decisive action to block anyone from doing business with Kremlin-controlled outlets RT and Sputnik”.

Earlier on February 24, Russian President Vlimir Putin said that Russian forces will ‘demilitarise’ and ‘denazify’ parts of its neighbouring nation, Ukraine. What followed was bombing of major Ukrainian cities with citizens still finding shelter in or places except for ir homes. war has now continued for over two months but no ceasefire agreement has been reached. West including US and UK has stood in strong support of Ukraine with several officials even travelling to Kyiv amid clashes with Moscow's forces. 

Image: AP