Serbia ranks fourth globally in terms of the volume of Russian disinformation articles published relative to its population, according to a new study by the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship at the American University in Bulgaria. The research analyzed 643,600 articles posted across 45 countries from December 2024 to March 2025, reports RFE.
More than half (52%) of the disinformation content was targeted at former Soviet republics and Balkan countries, with Serbia being one of the leading countries affected. The disinformation is spread through the Pravda network, which emerged after Russian state media like Russia Today and Sputnik were banned across the EU in 2022.
As of 2025, the Pravda network spans 190 websites across 83 countries, broadcasting Russian propaganda in multiple languages. The Portal Kombat operation, which is a part of this network, focuses on disseminating content from the Russian government to shape narratives and expand influence, particularly in regions of geopolitical importance for Russia.
In Serbia, the number of disinformation articles published is 31 times greater than in Western European nations, underscoring the country’s significant role in Russia’s broader geopolitical strategy. This disinformation campaign aims to deepen internal divisions and fuel distrust in democratic institutions within the region, particularly in EU-oriented countries.
Moldova leads the list with 56 times more disinformation articles per capita than Western Europe, followed by Latvia and Estonia. Balkan countries such as Serbia, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia receive 16.2% of global disinformation content, despite having just 3.2% of the world’s population.
The study also highlighted the critical role of Radio Free Europe (RFE) as a counterweight to Russian propaganda in the region. However, recent decisions by the U.S. government to reduce funding for RFE are seen as a strategic mistake amid Russia’s growing disinformation efforts. RFE has since filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) following the funding cuts.
