A Russian-aligned influence operation, dubbed “Operation Overload” (also known as Matryoshka and Storm-1679), has reportedly shifted its focus to disrupt the upcoming U.S. presidential election, directing significant resources toward Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. According to a new report by Recorded Future, this campaign has been actively using sophisticated disinformation tactics, creating and sharing fake videos that impersonate well-known news outlets to circulate misleading narratives across social media.
These findings come just as federal intelligence agencies warned of increased foreign influence attempts as the election approaches. Operation Overload, previously involved in anti-Ukraine propaganda and disinformation surrounding the Paris Olympic Games, is reportedly amplifying false narratives about Harris while also targeting former President Donald Trump, albeit to a lesser degree. Rather than favoring any particular candidate, the campaign’s primary objective appears to be sowing distrust in the democratic process.
Some recent examples highlight the breadth of this disinformation push: a suspended X account shared a video that falsely portrayed a BBC report, claiming Trump received an endorsement from notorious Norwegian extremist Anders Behring Breivik. Another video shared on Telegram, impersonating Fox News, falsely suggested that the Trump campaign pressured KFC’s parent company into suing Harris. Recorded Future also identified fake content linked to prominent public figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and JD Vance, amplifying divisive narratives to manipulate public sentiment.
The content generated by Operation Overload includes AI-generated voiceovers, fabricated expert testimonies, and difficult-to-verify eyewitness claims. It frequently uses recycled images and videos from open sources, with sophisticated impersonations of legitimate media to give false credibility to the stories. The operation reportedly requires significant resources, employing individuals with skills in public relations, programming, marketing, and content creation, with dedicated teams to monitor international news and coordinate automated social media campaigns.
Researchers noted that the group’s tactics seem to strategically align with Kremlin interests, suggesting an ongoing relationship with Russian government entities. However, rather than targeting general American voters, Operation Overload’s efforts seem directed more toward media organizations. By overwhelming these organizations’ ability to fact-check and respond quickly, the campaign hopes that some disinformation will make its way into mainstream political discourse through trusted news channels, creating a greater impact on public opinion as the election nears.
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