DFRLab’s groundbreaking investigations, in collaboration with Check First, uncover how the Russian Pravda network leverages cross-platform, multilingual influence operations and manipulates Wikipedia, large language models, and X to amplify pro-Kremlin narratives.
spotlight
Russia’s Pravda network in numbers: Introducing the Pravda Dashboard
The Finnish company Check First and the DFRLab are releasing an online dashboard aggregating near-real-time data from Russia’s Pravda network. Our investigation found that the network published more than 3.7 million articles that repurposed content from Russian news outlets and amplified information from questionable Telegram channels.
Russia-linked Pravda network cited on Wikipedia, LLMs, and X
The DFRLab and Finland-based Check First examined the dissemination of content from Russia’s Pravda network in Wikipedia source links, X Community Notes, and conversations generated by popular AI chatbots. Our research reveals that Pravda network domains are often cited as sources, and their claims are reposted on these platforms, sparking concerns of content pollution. Using API access to Wikipedia and X, we found that posting activity featuring hyperlinks to Pravda network domains had grown exponentially since February 24, 2022. All data used in this investigation is available on Check First’s Github repository.
Russia’s so-called “Pravda” network expands worldwide
An investigation by the DFRLab and Finland-based company Check First has found that the Russian website ecosystem known as “Pravda” expanded its infrastructure over the course of 2024. The operation, previously dubbed “Portal Kombat,” has evolved to encompass more countries and launder content in more languages across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Website forensic analysis linked the operation to the Crimea-based IT company TigerWeb, as well as its owner, who shares dubious links with the Russian-backed government of occupied Crimea.
explore the pravda dashboard
What is the Pravda Network?
This interactive dashboard has been designed to monitor and analyse the Russian propaganda operation emanating from the so-called ‘Pravda Network’, also dubbed ‘Portal Kombat’, as documented by Viginum [1], [2], Check First [3], DFRLab [4] [5] and others [6] [7].
This dashboard aggregates real-time data from all the detected dubious websites posing as news websites belonging to the operation, as detected by Check First. It allows the display of several metrics for each of the sites, including the number of published articles, their time distribution and quoted sources and more. Data is updated automatically every hour.
Pravda Dashboard World Map
Discover the Pravda Dashboard World Map, an interactive application that tracks and visualizes the influence and reach of Russia’s Pravda Network across more than 110 countries and regions worldwide. Dive in to explore the global footprint and impact of this extensive network.
By clicking on or searching for a specific country or region, users can access fact sheets and metrics that highlight how the country is targeted based on the number of articles, the most frequently cited sources, and observed surges in posting activity.
about check first
Check First is a pioneer in algorithm analysis and deploying expert skills to probe bad actors in the digital ecosystem.
We specialize in developing advanced, open-source research and investigative tools that empower stakeholders to detect, analyze, and counter harmful narratives online.
By harnessing the power of cutting-edge OSINT techniques, we systematically dissect complex influence operations—ranging from coordinated inauthentic behaviour on social media platforms to state-backed disinformation networks.
Our work is instrumental in exposing how manipulated content infiltrates trusted platforms and contaminates public discourse, ultimately fostering a more transparent and reliable digital ecosystem.
related experts
Valentin Châtelet
Valentin Châtelet is a research associate for security at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab based in Belgium.
Châtelet researches disinformation, ethnic movements, and political activism throughout post-Soviet countries, the Baltic states, Russia, and Belarus. As a self-taught programmer, he has worked for the French private sector as a geographic information systems engineer, developing software for geolocation purposes.
Amaury Lesplingart
Amaury Lesplingart is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Check First, a Finnish company specializing in open-source research and investigative tools.
With a background as a serial entrepreneur and technologist, Amaury leads the technological initiatives, focusing on creating and implementing innovative tools that leverage open-source intelligence (OSINT) to support comprehensive research and analysis efforts. Amaury is also one of the contributors to the development of the Guidelines for Public Interest OSINT Investigations (ObSINT), produced as part of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) project.
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