German intelligence services have identified an increase in the spread of disinformation about Chancellor Friedrich Merz, attributing it to Russia, according to an article published in the German media on Wednesday, cited by dpa, Agerpres reports.

“Since the end of June 2026, the frequency of these activities has increased further,” the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, told the business daily Handelsblatt.

The disinformation campaigns – which often involve videos designed to appear as though they have been published by well-known media organisations – are conducted mainly on X and other social media platforms, the publication noted.

Among the actors involved in disseminating content focused on false information about Chancellor Merz are the so-called “Matryoshka” campaign and the propaganda group Storm-1516, according to the BfV.

The German government officially established a link between Storm-1516 and Russia in December 2025, after it was found that the group had spread disinformation in the context of Germany’s national elections in February 2025.

“The main aim of these campaigns was ‘to escalate social tensions, undermine confidence in democratic processes and influence the formation of public opinion and the decision-making process’,” the intelligence agency told Handelsblatt.

source – AGERPRES