Claims that Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centres reduced Kremlin-linked bot networks have spread widely online, but experts have told BBC Verify there is no evidence the attacks have significantly reduced them.
Researchers from dTeam, a US-based group that tracks Moscow-linked influence operations, told BBC Verify there has not been “any traffic change from known Russian accounts and bot clusters on any platform”.
Bots linked to pro-Kremlin influence operations like Storm-1516 and Matryoshka - both of which BBC Verify has previously reported on - were still active on social media on Tuesday, evidence shared with BBC Verify by dTeam shows.
Right? I want to believe this. I really do. I am desperate for even a small shred of good news. But I’ve literally seen no hard data confirming this. Like please; show me something, anything, that confirms this. I’ve gone looking myself, granted not deeply, and have found nothing concrete. Only articles parroting the same claim without evidence.