Der Spiegel and The Insider have released an investigative piece titled “Operation Kylo,” exposing the plans of Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, the SVR, to manipulate Western public opinion. This report, built on hacked correspondence from SVR officers, sheds light on the Kremlin’s sophisticated strategy to conduct “information warfare” against the West.
The leaked documents, originally intended for various Russian government agencies, reveal a systematic approach to spreading disinformation on sensitive Western topics. The SVR’s tactics include posting falsehoods while posing as radical Ukrainian and European political forces, appealing to emotions—primarily fear—over rationality, and utilizing emerging internet platforms instead of outdated ones like RT and Sputnik.
A particularly revealing passage from the documents highlights the SVR’s emphasis on instilling fear to manipulate public perception. According to Kolesov, an SVR officer, the agency would develop metrics to measure user engagement, including click-through rates, time spent reading SVR-generated content, and comments posted. “The leitmotif of our cognitive campaign in the [Western] countries is proposed to be the instilling of the strongest emotion in the human psyche — fear,” the document states. “It is precisely the fear for the future, uncertainty about tomorrow, the inability to make long-term plans, the unclear fate of children and future generations. The cultivation of these triggers floods an individual’s subconscious with panic and terror.”
The documents also detail targeted campaigns against Russian émigrés, including efforts to discredit a fundraiser for Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation who had relocated to the United States. These localized disinformation efforts are part of a broader strategy to undermine opposition figures and movements abroad.
This investigative report by Der Spiegel and The Insider provides a comprehensive look at the SVR’s disinformation tactics and their impact on Western societies. By examining the SVR’s methods and objectives, the report underscores the importance of understanding and countering such malicious activities.
This investigative piece is essential for anyone concerned about the influence of disinformation on global politics and the integrity of public discourse. To read the full report and gain a complete understanding of the findings click here.