Storm-1516

Storm-1516 is a Russian propagandist group which creates and spreads online disinformation to further the interests of the Russian government. They have posted negative stories about American aid to Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the Democratic Party candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election, presidential nominee Kamala Harris and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. Storm-1516 started as an offshoot of the former Internet Research Agency, another Russian propagandist group. They have a team which produces social media videos featuring paid actors as well as fake people generated through artificial intelligence. Notably, they spread false claims that Harris left a teenager disabled in a hit-and-run car accident in 2011, and that Walz was accused of sexual abuse by multiple former students of his at Mankato West High School; these narratives were a part of a Russian government effort to support the Republican presidential campaign of presidential nominee Donald Trump and vice presidential nominee JD Vance. Storm-1516 has been linked to the website Nova Resistência. Reporting has described the broader network associated with the site as operating internationally, with indications that some elements of the network may be connected to Brazil.