Officials highlighted fake websites and political ads during Moldova’s recent election and cited fabricated news sites spreading videos with false claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy created to weaken public backing.
The UK introduced sanctions against Russian media and ideological groups on Tuesday as the foreign minister urged Western nations to strengthen their responses to information warfare from hostile states.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced sanctions on the Telegram channel Rybar, the Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad—described by Estonian intelligence as a front for Russia’s GRU—and the Centre for Geopolitical Expertise, led by far-right Russian writer Aleksandr Dugin.
She also sanctioned two China-based companies for cyber operations that targeted the UK and its allies.
Government Warns of Escalating Hybrid Threats
Cooper delivered a speech at the Foreign Office and stated that Britain and its partners face growing hybrid threats designed to damage infrastructure, undermine national interests, and interfere in democratic systems.
She labelled these actions Russian information warfare and confirmed that the UK is actively defending itself.
She described threats ranging from sabotage to disinformation networks that flood social media with AI-generated or manipulated videos aimed at weakening Western support for Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
British officials again cited fake websites and political ads in Moldova’s election and pointed to fabricated videos featuring false claims about Zelenskyy and his wife designed to erode support for Ukraine.
UK Calls for Stronger International Cooperation
Cooper delivered the address to mark 100 years since the Locarno Treaties, a series of interwar agreements that strengthened peace in Europe.
She stressed the need for international unity at a moment when US President Donald Trump has destabilised long-standing alliances and raised doubts about the United States’ commitment to NATO.
Cooper met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Monday and said the discussions clearly confirmed the strength of the US commitment to NATO.
