The investigation found that a video was commissioned and paid for by a Russian group, Storm-1516, which is identified as a Kremlin-linked troll group. The video featured an actress playing the victim and was distributed on a fake website for a defunct San Francisco media outlet called KBSF-TV.

According to Microsoft, “Russian influence efforts have been directed at the Democratic campaign with renewed vigor after President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 US presidential race.”

Microsoft also stated that Storm-1516 produced content that linked Vice President Harris and Gov. Vice Presidential candidate Tim Waltz to highly false conspiracy theories in late August.

Storm-1516 is known for posting misleading videos with hired actors impersonating journalists or civil society organizations to spread false and scandalous information, experts say.

The video was shared on September 3 by an Aussie Cossack on X.com, who identified himself as a “registered foreign agent for Sputnik News” and added “making a viral video, friends of MAGA (Donald Trump group – ed.).” The video has been viewed 2.7 million times.

Microsoft’s threat analysis think tank stated that “a number of other groups associated with the pro-Russia ecosystem have widely disseminated the video as well as the false claims.”

Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice filed money-laundering charges against two employees of Russian state media group RT on suspicion of involvement in a scheme to hire a US content production company to influence the country’s elections.