A Russian outfit named Social Design Agency (SDA) has been accused by the US government of running a malign influence campaign called “Doppelgänger,” and it has come to light that they are operating another similar campaign concurrently. This new campaign, dubbed “Operation Undercut,” is aiming to erode support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, while also extending its interference to other areas like the Middle East conflict, internal EU politics, and the upcoming 2024 US presidential election.
Researchers at Recorded Future’s Insikt Group have analyzed the Operation Undercut campaign and identified it as part of Russia’s broader strategy to destabilize Western alliances and tarnish the image of Ukraine’s leadership. By targeting audiences in Europe and the US, SDA seeks to amplify anti-Ukraine sentiment, with the hope of reducing Western military aid to the country. The campaign also aims to portray the involvement of the US and EU in the conflict as ineffective and misguided, according to the researchers.
Operation Undercut relies on AI-enhanced videos on social media platforms like X, as well as content that impersonates legitimate media outlets. These videos, available in multiple languages such as English, Russian, and German, are well-produced and often depict recent news events or political figures making various statements. For example, one video shows Ukrainian President Zelensky discussing NATO providing the country with Israel’s yearly arms supply, while another portrays Biden as wanting to escalate the Ukrainian conflict before Trump takes office. Additionally, the campaign includes content sourced from credible media outlets like The Times and Die Welt, suggesting growing support for Russia and questioning Ukraine’s war efforts.
Recorded Future’s research has also uncovered members of Operation Undercut amplifying misinformation from Storm-1516, a Russian influence network known for spreading disinformation, particularly about the 2024 US elections. This misinformation includes fake stories about Zelensky buying a villa in Italy during a 2024 summit and a deepfake video of a Hamas leader threatening the 2024 Olympics.
Despite the limited engagement with the videos and content among the intended audiences so far, the US government has taken a serious stance against such efforts and has moved to seize 32 Internet domains associated with the Doppelgänger campaign. Clément Briens, a senior threat intelligence analyst, has attributed Operation Undercut to the SDA based on similarities in content with previously leaked SDA documents and Doppelgänger websites.
In conclusion, Operation Undercut is seen as a separate operation from Doppelgänger due to differences in tactics and distribution methods. While Doppelgänger focuses on inauthentic websites promoted by automated accounts, Undercut accounts post content directly on social media platforms, using techniques like localized hashtag spam to reach targeted audiences. The ongoing influence campaigns by SDA highlight the continued efforts to disrupt Western alliances and manipulate public opinion on critical global issues.