France uncovers Russian influence network GlobUs operating in Africa
France's Viginum agency has identified GlobUs as a Russian influence network that uses African media, journalists, bloggers and political figures to spread anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western narratives. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on October 27 that he would seek EU sanctions against those involved in the network.
Key points
- GlobUs is led by Russian political technologists Yulia Berg and Andrii Hromov.
- The network organizes information campaigns in Africa, including Cameroon and Congo.
- Its three Telegram channels have a combined audience of more than 75,000 subscribers, according to Viginum.
- GlobUs produced the film "The Reality of Donbas" with support from the Viposhchennia foundation, promoting Russia's account of the 2014 events.
- The film aired in English, French and Russian through the African channel Afrique Média TV.
- Yulia Berg has been under US sanctions since 2021 for involvement in disinformation and influence operations in Africa and Europe.
- France is seeking EU sanctions against those involved in GlobUs's activities.
Why it matters
GlobUs extends Russian influence operations beyond Ukraine into African media and political environments. By distributing anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western material and promoting acceptance of the occupation of Ukrainian territory, the network seeks to influence public opinion in countries such as Cameroon and Congo. France's call for EU sanctions could lead to additional restrictions on the people and organizations involved.
What happened
Viginum, France's agency for countering foreign digital interference, uncovered GlobUs as a Russian influence network. Led by Yulia Berg and Andrii Hromov, it organizes information campaigns in Africa and works with local media, journalists, bloggers and political figures. According to Viginum, the network has three Telegram channels with more than 75,000 subscribers in total.
GlobUs and the Viposhchennia foundation, founded by Hromov in 2022, supported production of "The Reality of Donbas," a documentary presenting Russia's version of the 2014 events. It was broadcast in English, French and Russian through Afrique Média TV. The foundation also spread Russian narratives about the war in Ukraine and organized foreign trips to occupied Ukrainian territory.
On October 27, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he would seek EU sanctions against those involved in GlobUs's activities. French authorities also assess that some of Yevgeny Prigozhin's former influence network came under the control of Russian state structures after his death.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes GlobUs's links to former Yevgeny Prigozhin structures and Russian state-controlled influence efforts. It also highlights propaganda operations involving occupied Ukrainian territories and the risk that Russian narratives reaching African audiences could help normalize the occupation of Ukrainian land. Ukraine's earlier request to close Russian World centers worldwide provides wider context for the French disclosure.
How international sources describe it
French authorities describe GlobUs as a foreign digital-interference and influence network operating through African media, journalists, bloggers and political figures. Their response focuses on possible EU sanctions against those responsible, while France's assessment links parts of Prigozhin's former influence network to continued operations under Russian state control.
Background
Andrii Hromov founded the Viposhchennia foundation in 2022. It spread Russian narratives about the war in Ukraine, supported propaganda documentaries about Donbas and organized trips for foreign visitors to occupied Ukrainian territories. Yulia Berg has been under US sanctions since 2021 for her participation in disinformation and influence operations in Africa and Europe. In September, Ukraine officially requested the closure of all Russian World centers worldwide.