Over the past two years, the scope and ways of Russian influence in Germany have significantly evolved from «traditional» Russian instruments for European space to «soft power», including political and cultural media activities to create a positive image, coordinated information, hybrid and cyber operations that directly threaten the country’s political stability, social consensus and economic security. Today these are no longer individual «inputts» in social networks, but a complex, multi-level campaign capable of changing the socio-political agenda, reinforcing extremism and undermining confidence in state institutions.
In Germany, a new wave of Russian disinformation known as «Doppelgänger» operation uses cloned media sites, fake account networks and automated reposting to artificially create «majority opinion» and impose specific narratives – from discrediting aid to Ukraine to undermining the credibility of traditional parties. These networks do not just publish fairy tales, they create mirror copies of editorial materials, purposefully attack opinion leaders and broadcast political messages convenient for Moscow. International investigations and EU reports note that the infrastructure of such operations has become more professional, which has provided significant coverage for Germany’s population.
The consequences of this Russian information pressure are far from theoretical. Research and journalistic investigations point to direct attempts to influence the electoral process in Germany by promoting radical and populist forces, discrediting key politicians and forming «fear» before economic problems. In the run-up to the federal elections of February 2025, campaigns aimed at undermining support for mainstream parties and strengthening the radical right – with all the attendant risks of blocking political decisions and growing political divisions in society. The Federal Intelligence Agency of Germany (BfV) in 2024 openly warned about the risks of interference in the electoral process and announced the creation of a task force to suppress any attempts by foreign states to influence the federal elections.
Information campaigns are often accompanied by cyber operations and attacks on critical infrastructure.
According to a report published in June this year by the German Ministry of Internal Affairs, more than 130,000 cybercrimes were recorded in Germany in 2024, and more than 200,000 FRG attacks from abroad. The report states that a particularly large number of such crimes in Germany were recorded from Russia.
According to the Bundeswehr leadership, cyber-attacks on the German armed forces occur almost daily. Thus, in early October, the pro-Russian hacking group Noname057(16) almost a week, bombarded with so-called DDoS attacks the German portal for placing public orders, in particular from the Bundeswehr, as well as other websites of the state administration in Germany. Resources were purposefully overloaded with requests. However, according to security sources, there are no signs of data leakage or successful hacking.
2022 was a key year for Germany in its trade and economic relations with Russia. After 2022, Germany’s trade and energy dependence on Russia declined sharply. Official statistics and energy reports record a drop in imports and an increase in supplies from other sources. According to the German statistical office Destatis, imports of goods into Germany from Russia fell by 95% between 2021 and 2024, while exports of goods to Russia fell by 72%. But even this significant «gap» has not eliminated all vulnerabilities. Contracts, infrastructure links, and undisclosed economic channels continue to create points of convergence that Moscow can use for pressure, whether through economic leverage, risks of supply disruptions, or energy market manipulation.
Paradoxically, along with economic adjustment has emerged an element of political pressure manifested in rising prices and economic instability. Using distorted historical narratives, Russia seeks to influence the German community. It should be noted that a significant part of Germany is linked to the Soviet past and in Germany lives a large Russian diaspora, which allows the Russian «trojan horse», institutions of cultural diplomacy, under the cover of culture to promote the Kremlin agenda. Russian cultural and media initiatives in Germany are often disguised as neutral events and news services, but serve to build loyal audiences and promote legitimizing narratives. Russian-language media and online platforms play an important role in polarizing the diaspora and spreading antagonistic ideas about German society and politics. This weakens the integration mechanisms and facilitates the penetration of pro-Kremlin ideas into the German community. Information bubbles, in which people face only the confirmation of their own beliefs, reinforce isolation and polarization. As a result, society increasingly lives in parallel realities where truth and falsehood lose their clear boundaries.
By using distorted historical reasoning, Russia seeks to influence the German community. It should be noted that a significant part of Germany is linked to the Soviet past and in Germany there is a large Russian diaspora, which allows the Russian «trojan horse», institutions of cultural diplomacy, under cover of culture to promote the agenda of the Kremlin. Russian cultural and media initiatives in Germany are often disguised as neutral events and news services, but serve to build a loyal audience and promote legitimizing narratives. Russian-language media and online platforms play an important role in polarizing the diaspora and spreading antagonistic ideas about German society and politics. This weakens the integration mechanisms and facilitates the penetration of pro-Kremlin ideas into the German community. Information bubbles, in which people face only the confirmation of their own beliefs, reinforce isolation and polarization. As a result, society increasingly lives in parallel realities where truth and falsehood lose their clear boundaries.
At the same time, the trend towards political violence is increasing. The feeding of extremist groups, the spread of conspiracy theories and the normalization of radical rhetoric lead to an increase in aggression in public space. More and more cases of politically motivated crimes, attacks on journalists and government officials are being documented. This incitement destroys the traditional culture of political debate, turning dissent into hostility.
The Russian «presence» in Germany today creates a multi-level challenge that undermines trust, distorts reality and is capable of radically changing political arrangements. Strengthening the information hygiene of society, coordination of security services and media regulators, transparency of contracts and economic relations, as well as active support for independent media and education, so that citizens can distinguish facts from manipulations, should be an integral part of German domestic policy. Without this, Germany risks paying not only for political turmoil, but also for the loss of social cohesion and economic stability.