According to the security service DSN, the extensive operation has aimed to undermine the Austrians' support for Ukraine during Russia's ongoing invasion war.
The influence attempts have taken place partly in the form of online posts and partly on the street with, for example, graffiti and stickers. The message has been extremely or Nazi-like – intentionally off-putting – and has been presented as if the senders were Ukrainians.
"The spread of false narratives, fake news, and manipulative content undermines trust in our institutions and puts social cohesion at risk," says Jörg Leichtfried (Social Democratic SPÖ), State Secretary in a leading position at the Ministry of the Interior in Vienna.
The Bulgarian woman was arrested at the end of last year. Communication between her and various employees in Russia and, among other places, the United Kingdom was found on her computer and phone. The woman is said to have had a leading role in the group's work, which started in 2022 and is believed to have been targeted at German-speaking people on a broad front, also in Germany.
