Disinformation Storm examines the scale, spread, and impact of WMD-related disinformation narratives in Bulgaria and Romania. Published by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), the report provides a comparative media monitoring analysis of the recurring narrative claiming that biological laboratories in Ukraine are developing weapons of mass destruction.
The study evaluates both volume and potential reach of misleading content across online media and public Facebook spaces in 2022–2023. It identifies a significant contrast between the two countries. In Bulgaria, the narrative penetrated mainstream online media, generating thousands of articles and reaching a substantial share of internet users. In Romania, the same narrative appeared at significantly lower volume and reach.
The report outlines structural factors that influence amplification of pro-Kremlin disinformation. Bulgarian-language outlets showed higher repetition and cross-platform amplification, including traffic driven by search engines and social media platforms. In Romania, misleading content was more concentrated within specific outlets and demonstrated comparatively lower overall impact.
Beyond mapping narrative spread, the report presents policy recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional resilience. These include reinforcing media regulator capacity, improving transparency of media ownership, deploying digital forensics infrastructure, and adopting integrated national approaches to counter hybrid threats.
By linking narrative analysis with institutional preparedness, the report contributes to understanding how WMD-related disinformation operates as part of broader hybrid warfare strategies in the region.
Sensika’s contribution
Content volume, reach, and traffic data for online media outlets were collected and analyzed using Sensika’s media intelligence platform. The platform enabled structured monitoring of Bulgarian- and Romanian-language online ecosystems, supporting comparative assessment of narrative intensity and dissemination patterns.
All findings, interpretations, and policy conclusions remain those of the Center for the Study of Democracy.
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Disinformation Storm: WMD Hybrid Threats in Bulgaria and Romania provides a detailed comparative examination of narrative spread, audience reach, and institutional resilience.
