An invisible war is unfolding in Ukraine's information space, where the primary weapon is not a missile, but text generated by algorithms. Russian propaganda has launched a massive campaign aimed at artificially inflating the issue of a migration crisis that, in reality, does not exist. Behind the facade of panic-inducing headlines lies a complex scheme for destabilizing society, planned by Russian intelligence services.

Disinformation Technologies: From GRU to Neural Networks

The Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has uncovered the details of this operation. This is not about scattered social media posts, but a coordinated effort by a network linked to the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). This chain involves resources controlled by Viktor Medvedchuk, channels of the sanctioned propagandist Vasily Prozorov, and the "ZOV" media network.

A distinctive feature of the modern campaign is the use of artificial intelligence against itself. The organizers of the attack understand how search engine and chatbot algorithms work. They mass-generate anti-migrant content to "poison" AI data. When a user asks a bot a question or searches for information on Google, the algorithm, trained on fakes, begins to present false data as credible facts. This creates an illusion of universal agreement with the myth of an "invasion".

Digital Army vs. Reality

To amplify the effect, videos created by neural networks are distributed via TikTok, as well as bot farms on Facebook. The goal is simple: to create the feeling that the migrant problem is a "pain" for the entire society, even if real people are not talking about it.

However, dry statistics are relentless and shatter this fabricated scenario. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, cites figures that speak for themselves:

  • In the first four months of 2026, only 3,200 work permits were issued to foreigners in Ukraine.
  • In 2025, this figure was 9,500.
  • Before the start of the full-scale war, about 22,000 permits were issued.

The trend is obvious: the migration flow is not growing, but shrinking rapidly. In the context of war and closed borders, talking about an "influx" of migrants is pure fiction created for provocation.

Why is this happening now?

Experts link the surge in fakes to the crisis within Russia itself. After the failure of the spring offensive and the worsening economic situation, the Kremlin needs to destabilize the situation in Ukraine and undermine the trust of Western partners at all costs. The migration topic is one of the most convenient tools for inciting xenophobia and distracting attention from real problems. Previously, Russia tried to scare Ukrainians with fakes about "forced mobilization of women," but now the bet is on social tension.