Following Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential elections, the social media platform Bluesky, created by Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, began gaining traction. By December 2024, its user base had grown to 25 million. The platform has become a haven for many former Twitter (now X) users dissatisfied with the changes Elon Musk implemented on the platform. Bluesky has also attracted numerous prominent American celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, Jamie Lee Curtis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Guillermo del Toro, Rihanna, and others. At the same time, Russian propagandists, notably the disinformation network Matryoshka, have been actively infiltrating the new platform.

This was reported by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security, whose experts have observed propagandists publishing fake videos and manipulative materials aimed at discrediting Ukraine. For instance, one video features a fabricated statement by a woman allegedly working at the Climate Care Center of Imperial College London. In the video, created using deepfake technology, she supposedly criticizes the use of long-range missiles against Russia. Eliot Higgins from Bellingcat pointed out that such videos are often based on real materials but are heavily distorted. Other examples include fake statements by graduates of British universities, falsely justifying Russian actions and criticizing Ukraine.

Bluesky, which positions itself as a safe space for users, now faces significant challenges in combating Russian information attacks. If the platform fails to develop effective countermeasures, it risks becoming a hub for the dissemination of propaganda.

Russia uses disinformation and propaganda, particularly through fake content on social media, for several reasons. Chief among them is the desire to undermine international support for Ukraine by portraying it as an unstable, corrupt, or aggressive state. Disinformation also aims to sow doubt among Ukraine’s allies, particularly in Western countries, thereby weakening their resolve to support Ukraine. The use of fake videos enables Russia to promote its own version of events, amplifying its influence in the global information space. By experimenting with new platforms like Bluesky, Russia seeks alternative propaganda channels after losing part of its audience on X (Twitter). These efforts are part of Russia’s broader strategy to weaken Ukraine’s position and bolster its own influence.