antibot4navalny | bot blocker | блокировщик ботов
@antibot4navalny.bsky.social
Exposing troll farms: 🇷🇺🇺🇦 and beyond
Cited by: @washingtonpost.com @nytimes.com @financialtimes.com @CNN.com @Wired.com @afpfactuel.bsky.social @LeMonde.fr @SZde.bsky.social @TheTimes.com @NBCnews.com @EFE.com
𝕏 / 🐦: antibot4navalny
Cited by: @washingtonpost.com @nytimes.com @financialtimes.com @CNN.com @Wired.com @afpfactuel.bsky.social @LeMonde.fr @SZde.bsky.social @TheTimes.com @NBCnews.com @EFE.com
𝕏 / 🐦: antibot4navalny
5/7
The frequently-large Retweet, Like and View counts suggest inflated metrics—as 🟨 demonstrated by several engagement-for-hire bots that are also boosting metrics for 🟥 Matryoshka bots.
Which implies an actor with some money to burn rather than a grassroot activist.
The frequently-large Retweet, Like and View counts suggest inflated metrics—as 🟨 demonstrated by several engagement-for-hire bots that are also boosting metrics for 🟥 Matryoshka bots.
Which implies an actor with some money to burn rather than a grassroot activist.
December 11, 2025 at 6:18 AM
5/7
The frequently-large Retweet, Like and View counts suggest inflated metrics—as 🟨 demonstrated by several engagement-for-hire bots that are also boosting metrics for 🟥 Matryoshka bots.
Which implies an actor with some money to burn rather than a grassroot activist.
The frequently-large Retweet, Like and View counts suggest inflated metrics—as 🟨 demonstrated by several engagement-for-hire bots that are also boosting metrics for 🟥 Matryoshka bots.
Which implies an actor with some money to burn rather than a grassroot activist.
3/7
Assuming one of the tweets has been lost somewhere in the pipeline, here are 46 of those 47 short tweets:
(originally posted in Armenian / machine-translated to English by me)
Assuming one of the tweets has been lost somewhere in the pipeline, here are 46 of those 47 short tweets:
(originally posted in Armenian / machine-translated to English by me)
December 11, 2025 at 6:18 AM
3/7
Assuming one of the tweets has been lost somewhere in the pipeline, here are 46 of those 47 short tweets:
(originally posted in Armenian / machine-translated to English by me)
Assuming one of the tweets has been lost somewhere in the pipeline, here are 46 of those 47 short tweets:
(originally posted in Armenian / machine-translated to English by me)
2/7
As often happens with sloppy disinfo operators, a LLM prompt leaked out in one of the tweets, exposing both AI usage and Russian-language preference of the operator.
(original tweet in Russian / machine-translated to English by me)
As often happens with sloppy disinfo operators, a LLM prompt leaked out in one of the tweets, exposing both AI usage and Russian-language preference of the operator.
(original tweet in Russian / machine-translated to English by me)
December 11, 2025 at 6:18 AM
2/7
As often happens with sloppy disinfo operators, a LLM prompt leaked out in one of the tweets, exposing both AI usage and Russian-language preference of the operator.
(original tweet in Russian / machine-translated to English by me)
As often happens with sloppy disinfo operators, a LLM prompt leaked out in one of the tweets, exposing both AI usage and Russian-language preference of the operator.
(original tweet in Russian / machine-translated to English by me)
🧵 Nearly 50 spam-for hire bots has recently flooded replies to the latest Nikol Pashinyan's tweet ↙️.
They posted AI-processed snippets from @News.DW.com article on Russian state's increasingly aggressive disinfo efforts targeting Armenia parliamentary election in June 2026 ↘️.
They posted AI-processed snippets from @News.DW.com article on Russian state's increasingly aggressive disinfo efforts targeting Armenia parliamentary election in June 2026 ↘️.
December 11, 2025 at 6:18 AM
🧵 Nearly 50 spam-for hire bots has recently flooded replies to the latest Nikol Pashinyan's tweet ↙️.
They posted AI-processed snippets from @News.DW.com article on Russian state's increasingly aggressive disinfo efforts targeting Armenia parliamentary election in June 2026 ↘️.
They posted AI-processed snippets from @News.DW.com article on Russian state's increasingly aggressive disinfo efforts targeting Armenia parliamentary election in June 2026 ↘️.
5/5
As for underlying agenda, the fake video is a part of multi-month effort to target Pashinyan in anticipation of June-2026 elections in Armenia.
The DSA fine served as yet another pretext for attributing an intended fake narrative to a reputable org, in this case VIGINUM.
As for underlying agenda, the fake video is a part of multi-month effort to target Pashinyan in anticipation of June-2026 elections in Armenia.
The DSA fine served as yet another pretext for attributing an intended fake narrative to a reputable org, in this case VIGINUM.
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
5/5
As for underlying agenda, the fake video is a part of multi-month effort to target Pashinyan in anticipation of June-2026 elections in Armenia.
The DSA fine served as yet another pretext for attributing an intended fake narrative to a reputable org, in this case VIGINUM.
As for underlying agenda, the fake video is a part of multi-month effort to target Pashinyan in anticipation of June-2026 elections in Armenia.
The DSA fine served as yet another pretext for attributing an intended fake narrative to a reputable org, in this case VIGINUM.
4/5
Meanwhile, X/Twitter is effectively banned in Russia for over 4.5 years now, for non-compliance to Kremlin's censorship demands—which adds a new dimension to the hypocrisy of this fake video.
Meanwhile, X/Twitter is effectively banned in Russia for over 4.5 years now, for non-compliance to Kremlin's censorship demands—which adds a new dimension to the hypocrisy of this fake video.
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
4/5
Meanwhile, X/Twitter is effectively banned in Russia for over 4.5 years now, for non-compliance to Kremlin's censorship demands—which adds a new dimension to the hypocrisy of this fake video.
Meanwhile, X/Twitter is effectively banned in Russia for over 4.5 years now, for non-compliance to Kremlin's censorship demands—which adds a new dimension to the hypocrisy of this fake video.
3/4
To remind, the DSA fine has nothing to do with fake news on X.
In fact, the breached obligations quoted for the fine are limited to:
👮 deceptive Verification practice;
👮 non-transparent data on advertising;
👮 barring independent research of X/Twitter public data
To remind, the DSA fine has nothing to do with fake news on X.
In fact, the breached obligations quoted for the fine are limited to:
👮 deceptive Verification practice;
👮 non-transparent data on advertising;
👮 barring independent research of X/Twitter public data
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
3/4
To remind, the DSA fine has nothing to do with fake news on X.
In fact, the breached obligations quoted for the fine are limited to:
👮 deceptive Verification practice;
👮 non-transparent data on advertising;
👮 barring independent research of X/Twitter public data
To remind, the DSA fine has nothing to do with fake news on X.
In fact, the breached obligations quoted for the fine are limited to:
👮 deceptive Verification practice;
👮 non-transparent data on advertising;
👮 barring independent research of X/Twitter public data
2/4
As a further "proof", the fake video quotes (a non-existent) Trump's Jun-2025 exec order banning travel of those previously "involved in censorship".
The original exec order shown was aimed at "foreign terrorists" and other security threats: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
As a further "proof", the fake video quotes (a non-existent) Trump's Jun-2025 exec order banning travel of those previously "involved in censorship".
The original exec order shown was aimed at "foreign terrorists" and other security threats: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
2/4
As a further "proof", the fake video quotes (a non-existent) Trump's Jun-2025 exec order banning travel of those previously "involved in censorship".
The original exec order shown was aimed at "foreign terrorists" and other security threats: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
As a further "proof", the fake video quotes (a non-existent) Trump's Jun-2025 exec order banning travel of those previously "involved in censorship".
The original exec order shown was aimed at "foreign terrorists" and other security threats: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
🧵 The Russian state happily sided with comrade Elon Musk in his clash with European Commission over the DSA fine to X.
A fake video from Matryoshka bots impersonates VIGINUM to allege that 65% of fake news (that "EC has fined X for") come from the very EU fact checking orgs.
A fake video from Matryoshka bots impersonates VIGINUM to allege that 65% of fake news (that "EC has fined X for") come from the very EU fact checking orgs.
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
🧵 The Russian state happily sided with comrade Elon Musk in his clash with European Commission over the DSA fine to X.
A fake video from Matryoshka bots impersonates VIGINUM to allege that 65% of fake news (that "EC has fined X for") come from the very EU fact checking orgs.
A fake video from Matryoshka bots impersonates VIGINUM to allege that 65% of fake news (that "EC has fined X for") come from the very EU fact checking orgs.
Addendum 2: Sofin has deleted a tweet that previously exposed his affiliation to Dialogonomics:
December 10, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Addendum 2: Sofin has deleted a tweet that previously exposed his affiliation to Dialogonomics:
6/8
As for Iyry Sofinn, he is a head of us-media[.]ru, a Krasnogorsk-based digital communication boutique.
He is also behind IQAD[.]ru (SEO agency) and SeoWizard[.]ru (a SEO service).
It is unclear at this point whether or not he runs the LLM-powered bot network.
As for Iyry Sofinn, he is a head of us-media[.]ru, a Krasnogorsk-based digital communication boutique.
He is also behind IQAD[.]ru (SEO agency) and SeoWizard[.]ru (a SEO service).
It is unclear at this point whether or not he runs the LLM-powered bot network.
December 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
6/8
As for Iyry Sofinn, he is a head of us-media[.]ru, a Krasnogorsk-based digital communication boutique.
He is also behind IQAD[.]ru (SEO agency) and SeoWizard[.]ru (a SEO service).
It is unclear at this point whether or not he runs the LLM-powered bot network.
As for Iyry Sofinn, he is a head of us-media[.]ru, a Krasnogorsk-based digital communication boutique.
He is also behind IQAD[.]ru (SEO agency) and SeoWizard[.]ru (a SEO service).
It is unclear at this point whether or not he runs the LLM-powered bot network.
5/8
Speaking of Dialogonomics(IuriKDmit), it seems like Lisiipen10U(Iyry Sofinn) is behind its operation:
🧩 Sofinn's 1st-ever post was a reply to IuriKDmit
🧩 which is also the very 1st reply received by IuriKDmit
🧩 Sofinn replied just 4m after IuriKDmit's very 1st post
Speaking of Dialogonomics(IuriKDmit), it seems like Lisiipen10U(Iyry Sofinn) is behind its operation:
🧩 Sofinn's 1st-ever post was a reply to IuriKDmit
🧩 which is also the very 1st reply received by IuriKDmit
🧩 Sofinn replied just 4m after IuriKDmit's very 1st post
December 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
5/8
Speaking of Dialogonomics(IuriKDmit), it seems like Lisiipen10U(Iyry Sofinn) is behind its operation:
🧩 Sofinn's 1st-ever post was a reply to IuriKDmit
🧩 which is also the very 1st reply received by IuriKDmit
🧩 Sofinn replied just 4m after IuriKDmit's very 1st post
Speaking of Dialogonomics(IuriKDmit), it seems like Lisiipen10U(Iyry Sofinn) is behind its operation:
🧩 Sofinn's 1st-ever post was a reply to IuriKDmit
🧩 which is also the very 1st reply received by IuriKDmit
🧩 Sofinn replied just 4m after IuriKDmit's very 1st post
4/8
Each of pro-Dmitriev LLM bots post up to 1-2 tweets per minute at peak.
One of the telling features for a bot network is using one account for a series of replies before switching to another account for a new series.
Each of pro-Dmitriev LLM bots post up to 1-2 tweets per minute at peak.
One of the telling features for a bot network is using one account for a series of replies before switching to another account for a new series.
December 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
4/8
Each of pro-Dmitriev LLM bots post up to 1-2 tweets per minute at peak.
One of the telling features for a bot network is using one account for a series of replies before switching to another account for a new series.
Each of pro-Dmitriev LLM bots post up to 1-2 tweets per minute at peak.
One of the telling features for a bot network is using one account for a series of replies before switching to another account for a new series.
3/8
This is the 1st time since Apr-2024 when is Kremlin using LLM bots that are context-relevant: responding to the subject of tweet (rather than spamming w/unrelated content)
Previously such bots were targeting Russian-speaking users, occasionally misunderstanding the context:
This is the 1st time since Apr-2024 when is Kremlin using LLM bots that are context-relevant: responding to the subject of tweet (rather than spamming w/unrelated content)
Previously such bots were targeting Russian-speaking users, occasionally misunderstanding the context:
December 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
3/8
This is the 1st time since Apr-2024 when is Kremlin using LLM bots that are context-relevant: responding to the subject of tweet (rather than spamming w/unrelated content)
Previously such bots were targeting Russian-speaking users, occasionally misunderstanding the context:
This is the 1st time since Apr-2024 when is Kremlin using LLM bots that are context-relevant: responding to the subject of tweet (rather than spamming w/unrelated content)
Previously such bots were targeting Russian-speaking users, occasionally misunderstanding the context:
2/8
The bots praise the special envoy responding to tweets posted:
👏 by Dmitriev himself
👏 by Dialogonomics (IuriKDmit), Dmitriev's analytical alter ego?
👏 by other users mentioning Dmitriev
As often, using bots to praise oneself is a telling sign of lack of confidence.
The bots praise the special envoy responding to tweets posted:
👏 by Dmitriev himself
👏 by Dialogonomics (IuriKDmit), Dmitriev's analytical alter ego?
👏 by other users mentioning Dmitriev
As often, using bots to praise oneself is a telling sign of lack of confidence.
December 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
2/8
The bots praise the special envoy responding to tweets posted:
👏 by Dmitriev himself
👏 by Dialogonomics (IuriKDmit), Dmitriev's analytical alter ego?
👏 by other users mentioning Dmitriev
As often, using bots to praise oneself is a telling sign of lack of confidence.
The bots praise the special envoy responding to tweets posted:
👏 by Dmitriev himself
👏 by Dialogonomics (IuriKDmit), Dmitriev's analytical alter ego?
👏 by other users mentioning Dmitriev
As often, using bots to praise oneself is a telling sign of lack of confidence.
🧵 In early November, the troll network set up on X/Twitter to praise Kirill Dmitriev has been expanded by 24 LLM-powered bot accounts.
Just a month later, Dmitriev is blaming EU today for using bots to manipulate his poll results.
Just a month later, Dmitriev is blaming EU today for using bots to manipulate his poll results.
December 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
🧵 In early November, the troll network set up on X/Twitter to praise Kirill Dmitriev has been expanded by 24 LLM-powered bot accounts.
Just a month later, Dmitriev is blaming EU today for using bots to manipulate his poll results.
Just a month later, Dmitriev is blaming EU today for using bots to manipulate his poll results.
20/20
CREDITS:
🙏 my stellar team exposed the entire phenomenon; did all of the heavy lifting on finding 100s of accounts, identifying common patterns; collecting ample evidence
🙏 Tatsiana Ashurkevich helped to structure and package our findings to make them easier to understand
CREDITS:
🙏 my stellar team exposed the entire phenomenon; did all of the heavy lifting on finding 100s of accounts, identifying common patterns; collecting ample evidence
🙏 Tatsiana Ashurkevich helped to structure and package our findings to make them easier to understand
December 1, 2025 at 1:39 PM
20/20
CREDITS:
🙏 my stellar team exposed the entire phenomenon; did all of the heavy lifting on finding 100s of accounts, identifying common patterns; collecting ample evidence
🙏 Tatsiana Ashurkevich helped to structure and package our findings to make them easier to understand
CREDITS:
🙏 my stellar team exposed the entire phenomenon; did all of the heavy lifting on finding 100s of accounts, identifying common patterns; collecting ample evidence
🙏 Tatsiana Ashurkevich helped to structure and package our findings to make them easier to understand
18/20
X policy enforcmnt issues are similar to the major anon MAGA influencers:
• serial impersonation, despite blueticks
• stolen accounts helping w/longevity
• engment farming as the prevailing behavior of these accts
• manipulated growth (IFBAP, follow trains and other)
X policy enforcmnt issues are similar to the major anon MAGA influencers:
• serial impersonation, despite blueticks
• stolen accounts helping w/longevity
• engment farming as the prevailing behavior of these accts
• manipulated growth (IFBAP, follow trains and other)
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
18/20
X policy enforcmnt issues are similar to the major anon MAGA influencers:
• serial impersonation, despite blueticks
• stolen accounts helping w/longevity
• engment farming as the prevailing behavior of these accts
• manipulated growth (IFBAP, follow trains and other)
X policy enforcmnt issues are similar to the major anon MAGA influencers:
• serial impersonation, despite blueticks
• stolen accounts helping w/longevity
• engment farming as the prevailing behavior of these accts
• manipulated growth (IFBAP, follow trains and other)
16/20
We have no evidence yet to dis/prove either of possible nature / motivations of the operator(s):
🤔 domestic propaganda outsourced to cheap-labor regions
🤔 influence operation of a foreign actor
🤔 individual creators driven by the X Revenue Sharing
🤔 romance / PB scam
We have no evidence yet to dis/prove either of possible nature / motivations of the operator(s):
🤔 domestic propaganda outsourced to cheap-labor regions
🤔 influence operation of a foreign actor
🤔 individual creators driven by the X Revenue Sharing
🤔 romance / PB scam
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
16/20
We have no evidence yet to dis/prove either of possible nature / motivations of the operator(s):
🤔 domestic propaganda outsourced to cheap-labor regions
🤔 influence operation of a foreign actor
🤔 individual creators driven by the X Revenue Sharing
🤔 romance / PB scam
We have no evidence yet to dis/prove either of possible nature / motivations of the operator(s):
🤔 domestic propaganda outsourced to cheap-labor regions
🤔 influence operation of a foreign actor
🤔 individual creators driven by the X Revenue Sharing
🤔 romance / PB scam
15/20
From our limited observations, men in their 50-60s are those who most frequently respond to these "attractive MAGA female" accts.
If (½ YourAge + 7) social guideline could be applicable, ages targeted could be:
🏹 24..54 for Viet-Origins²
🏹 27..68 for French-Emigrants³
From our limited observations, men in their 50-60s are those who most frequently respond to these "attractive MAGA female" accts.
If (½ YourAge + 7) social guideline could be applicable, ages targeted could be:
🏹 24..54 for Viet-Origins²
🏹 27..68 for French-Emigrants³
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
15/20
From our limited observations, men in their 50-60s are those who most frequently respond to these "attractive MAGA female" accts.
If (½ YourAge + 7) social guideline could be applicable, ages targeted could be:
🏹 24..54 for Viet-Origins²
🏹 27..68 for French-Emigrants³
From our limited observations, men in their 50-60s are those who most frequently respond to these "attractive MAGA female" accts.
If (½ YourAge + 7) social guideline could be applicable, ages targeted could be:
🏹 24..54 for Viet-Origins²
🏹 27..68 for French-Emigrants³
14/20
Evidence for LLM / chatbot equivalent for the Vietnamese-origin² accts:
🧩 messages from LLM to operator
🧩 conversations contradicting to account's bio
🧩 Biden-era narratives assuming that Trump's 2nd term is yet to happen
🧩 placeholders that were posted unfilled
Evidence for LLM / chatbot equivalent for the Vietnamese-origin² accts:
🧩 messages from LLM to operator
🧩 conversations contradicting to account's bio
🧩 Biden-era narratives assuming that Trump's 2nd term is yet to happen
🧩 placeholders that were posted unfilled
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
14/20
Evidence for LLM / chatbot equivalent for the Vietnamese-origin² accts:
🧩 messages from LLM to operator
🧩 conversations contradicting to account's bio
🧩 Biden-era narratives assuming that Trump's 2nd term is yet to happen
🧩 placeholders that were posted unfilled
Evidence for LLM / chatbot equivalent for the Vietnamese-origin² accts:
🧩 messages from LLM to operator
🧩 conversations contradicting to account's bio
🧩 Biden-era narratives assuming that Trump's 2nd term is yet to happen
🧩 placeholders that were posted unfilled
13/20
Pointers to Viet (Cambodian) origin for the 2/ netwk:
🧩 "Hoa kỳ" in location (=US in Viet)
🧩 ChatGPT slips to Viet: a known issue for non-EN system default
🧩 loc transparency: Viet / Cambodia are the only non-US exceptions
🧩 2 accts repurposed from Viet clearly-bots
Pointers to Viet (Cambodian) origin for the 2/ netwk:
🧩 "Hoa kỳ" in location (=US in Viet)
🧩 ChatGPT slips to Viet: a known issue for non-EN system default
🧩 loc transparency: Viet / Cambodia are the only non-US exceptions
🧩 2 accts repurposed from Viet clearly-bots
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
13/20
Pointers to Viet (Cambodian) origin for the 2/ netwk:
🧩 "Hoa kỳ" in location (=US in Viet)
🧩 ChatGPT slips to Viet: a known issue for non-EN system default
🧩 loc transparency: Viet / Cambodia are the only non-US exceptions
🧩 2 accts repurposed from Viet clearly-bots
Pointers to Viet (Cambodian) origin for the 2/ netwk:
🧩 "Hoa kỳ" in location (=US in Viet)
🧩 ChatGPT slips to Viet: a known issue for non-EN system default
🧩 loc transparency: Viet / Cambodia are the only non-US exceptions
🧩 2 accts repurposed from Viet clearly-bots
12/20
Speaking of followers count stats:
🕸️ 15 of Potential-Fakes⁸ have over 5K followers each
🕸️ the largest Potential-Fake⁸ account nearly reaches 34K followers
🕸️ some of Vietnamese-origin² reach 1200
Speaking of followers count stats:
🕸️ 15 of Potential-Fakes⁸ have over 5K followers each
🕸️ the largest Potential-Fake⁸ account nearly reaches 34K followers
🕸️ some of Vietnamese-origin² reach 1200
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
12/20
Speaking of followers count stats:
🕸️ 15 of Potential-Fakes⁸ have over 5K followers each
🕸️ the largest Potential-Fake⁸ account nearly reaches 34K followers
🕸️ some of Vietnamese-origin² reach 1200
Speaking of followers count stats:
🕸️ 15 of Potential-Fakes⁸ have over 5K followers each
🕸️ the largest Potential-Fake⁸ account nearly reaches 34K followers
🕸️ some of Vietnamese-origin² reach 1200
11/20
One of the Potential-Fakes⁸ was also exposed by @Cen4InfoRes.bsky.social in mid-2024, which we only realized after discovering it on our own.
Originally @/Luna_2k24, it eventually became @/speaks_patriot with 30K followers, got suspended just a few days ago.
x.com/BenDoBrown/s...
One of the Potential-Fakes⁸ was also exposed by @Cen4InfoRes.bsky.social in mid-2024, which we only realized after discovering it on our own.
Originally @/Luna_2k24, it eventually became @/speaks_patriot with 30K followers, got suspended just a few days ago.
x.com/BenDoBrown/s...
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
11/20
One of the Potential-Fakes⁸ was also exposed by @Cen4InfoRes.bsky.social in mid-2024, which we only realized after discovering it on our own.
Originally @/Luna_2k24, it eventually became @/speaks_patriot with 30K followers, got suspended just a few days ago.
x.com/BenDoBrown/s...
One of the Potential-Fakes⁸ was also exposed by @Cen4InfoRes.bsky.social in mid-2024, which we only realized after discovering it on our own.
Originally @/Luna_2k24, it eventually became @/speaks_patriot with 30K followers, got suspended just a few days ago.
x.com/BenDoBrown/s...
10/20
Date of "becoming MAGA" among Potential-Fake⁸ accounts ranges between May 2024 and Oct 2025.
Date of "becoming MAGA" among Potential-Fake⁸ accounts ranges between May 2024 and Oct 2025.
December 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM
10/20
Date of "becoming MAGA" among Potential-Fake⁸ accounts ranges between May 2024 and Oct 2025.
Date of "becoming MAGA" among Potential-Fake⁸ accounts ranges between May 2024 and Oct 2025.