Russian Influence Exploits Celebrity Cameo Videos for Long-Term Disinformation Campaigns

Russian-aligned influence actors have been using manipulated videos featuring American celebrities to spread pro-Russian propaganda and falsely portray Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a drug addict. Despite the death of Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russia's influence operations continue to adapt and thrive. The country has targeted Ukraine's agriculture sector, engaged in cyberespionage against war crimes investigators, and shifted its anti-Ukraine messaging to the US and Israel. Ukrainian military infrastructure and defense partners remain key targets for Russian cyber actors. As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine enters a new stage of static trench warfare, Russian cyber and influence operators will aim to demoralize the Ukrainian population and degrade external support. The upcoming 2024 US presidential election also presents an opportunity for malign influence actors to undermine support for Ukraine-supporting political candidates. Microsoft is actively working to protect customers from these threats through AI-driven cyberdefense and efforts to fortify international norms.