Austria uncovers alleged Russian disinformation campaign spreading lies about Ukraine

Austrian authorities have uncovered a Russian disinformation campaign designed to spread lies about Ukraine, the country’s domestic intelligence agency (DSN) said this week.

The campaign was identified during an investigation into a Bulgarian woman accused of spying for Russia earlier this year. The intelligence agency analyzed electronic devices seized from her home, which led to the discovery of the alleged operation.

According to Austria’s Interior Ministry, Russian intelligence has orchestrated a large-scale disinformation effort aimed at German-speaking countries, including Austria, following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The Bulgarian suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, allegedly played a central role in the campaign and served as a liaison for Russian intelligence. She has admitted to working for Moscow, the ministry said.

Despite prosecutors’ request to detain the woman following her arrest in December, a regional court released her, a spokesperson for the Vienna prosecutor’s office told Reuters. She is not currently in custody.

The Austria-based disinformation network allegedly spread false narratives online and promoted far-right symbols and nationalist messages through stickers and graffiti, which the campaign sought to falsely attribute to pro-Ukrainian activists.

The Russian Embassy in Vienna has not publicly commented on the allegations.

In a separate case in November, two Bulgarian nationals pleaded guilty in the United Kingdom to being part of a Russian spy ring. Prosecutors said the group used a variety of surveillance equipment, including drones, jammers and hidden bugs to collect intelligence for Moscow.

A UK prosecutor said the spy ring operated under the direction of Austrian national Jan Marsalek, the former chief operating officer of collapsed fintech firm Wirecard. Marsalek fled to Russia in June 2020 after Wirecard disclosed a $1.9 billion accounting discrepancy and is suspected of working as an intermediary for Russian intelligence for more than a decade.

A Wall Street Journal investigation reported that Vienna has become a hub for Russian espionage in Europe. Citing sources in Austrian and European intelligence, the report detailed how Vienna serves as a base for Russian operations, including financing and logistical support for sabotage, recruitment, industrial espionage and influence campaigns across Europe.

An Austrian Interior Ministry spokesperson said at the time that authorities were aware of Russian espionage activities in Austria and were countering state-backed threats within legal constraints.