Operation “Disinformation” examines how retired military officers and former security officials have become prominent amplifiers of pro-Kremlin narratives within Bulgaria’s media and political landscape. The report analyzes how authority derived from military service is leveraged to legitimize messaging aligned with Russian geopolitical interests.
Produced by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), the study maps the intersection between ex-military commentary, nationalist political movements, and coordinated online amplification networks.
Military authority as a credibility vector
The report documents how retired officers frequently appear in television debates, online news commentary, and social media discussions to promote narratives opposing military assistance to Ukraine, questioning NATO commitments, and advocating geopolitical “neutrality.”
By presenting themselves as independent experts, these figures lend institutional credibility to narratives that mirror Kremlin strategic messaging. Narrative intensity spikes are shown to coincide with key political decisions related to defense policy and military cooperation.
Networked amplification
The analysis identifies clusters of online outlets and high-engagement Facebook pages that systematically amplify messaging from former officers. Overlapping digital ecosystems — including political actors and affiliated media platforms — reinforce narrative consistency across channels and extend the reach of these narratives.
Several individuals documented in the study have also transitioned into formal political roles, further embedding influence networks within democratic institutions.
Data-driven monitoring and analysis
The findings are based on structured monitoring of Bulgarian online media and public Facebook activity over a multi-year period. Narrative volume, source clustering, and amplification dynamics were assessed to identify coordinated dissemination patterns and peaks in influence activity around major geopolitical events.
The report provides a cross-platform perspective on how credibility, institutional trust, and digital infrastructure intersect within contemporary influence operations.
Sensika’s contribution
Online media coverage volume, source distribution, and narrative amplification patterns were analyzed using Sensika’s media intelligence platform. The monitoring infrastructure enabled systematic tracking of thousands of Bulgarian news websites and analysis of narrative amplification patterns linked to ex-military commentators
All findings, interpretations, and policy recommendations remain those of the Center for the Study of Democracy.
Access the full report
Operation “Disinformation” offers a structured assessment of how credibility-based influence networks operate within Bulgaria’s information environment.
