The Kremlin is deploying digital disinformation campaigns to sow division and undermine trust in democracy ahead of the 2026 voting cycle, U.S. intelligence officials said. These covert operations utilize social media to distribute false or divisive content, though officials found no evidence that the effort targeted the compromise of voting systems.

This current interference activity is less extensive than previous Russian operations and prioritizes the creation of general social turmoil over the support of any specific political candidate or party. The findings were first detailed in a New York Times report on September 18, citing U.S. intelligence sources.