Russian-linked disinformation campaigns are targeting French presidential candidates who back Ukraine, months before the April 2027 election, according to a fact-check by the Kyiv Independent.
France's foreign interference watchdog, Viginum, has already identified hundreds of operations aimed at the vote. False stories have claimed that centre-left MEP Raphaël Glucksmann helped set up torture prisons, that former prime minister Gabriel Attal inherited a drug business, and that centrist Édouard Philippe has dementia.
One fake report, made to look like the work of investigative outlet Blast and using AI-generated voices, alleged that Mr Glucksmann's partner tried to bribe journalists. Blast said it never published it, and Mr Glucksmann blamed Russian military intelligence. The outlet argues that weakening these candidates could leave a run-off between Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Source: Kyiv Independent
