On Wednesday, Radio France Internationale (RFI) became the latest victim of Russian disinformation when a fake report posing as RFI appeared online. The false claim in the report stated that France was facing a tuberculosis epidemic due to the admission of Ukrainian soldiers to the country’s hospitals. This unsubstantiated claim was circulated through various distribution channels, indicating that RFI was the target of a coordinated information attack.
The video that sparked the false claim was first discovered by Russian and international services RFI and has been circulating online since Wednesday. Despite suggesting that it was produced by RFI’s editorial team, the video was later confirmed to be a fake production unrelated to RFI. The video was first posted on the Russian Telegram account “Russia News” and then shared on various social media platforms.
A fake story about the video quickly spread on Russian social media, claiming that “Ukraine’s tuberculosis epidemic threatens France.” This pattern of dissemination, along with the anti-Ukrainian narrative and misrepresentation of legitimate media, points to the origins of this information attack. Similar tactics have been used in the past to target French and international media.
Spreading disinformation is a tactic often used by disinformation networks to sow division, deepen social chaos, and undermine trust in institutions. The case of Kate Middleton serves as an example of how such campaigns can exploit emotional reactions and manipulate public opinion for various motives. Engaging in critical thinking and fact-checking is key to combating the spread of misinformation and protecting against information attacks.