German security services have identified a group linked to Russia as the source of a fabricated video circulating online, which falsely claims that Chancellor Friedrich Merz is planning to resign from his position. According to a source within the security establishment who spoke to AFP on Friday, the video utilizes the branding of prominent German news outlets, including the public broadcaster Deutsche Welle and the business daily Handelsblatt, to lend false credibility to its narrative.
The deceptive content alleges that leaked documents from Merz’s conservative CDU party indicate he intends to step down next week due to declining poll numbers. The video further claims that Merz plans to be succeeded by Hendrik Wuest, the CDU state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia. Both Deutsche Welle and Handelsblatt have firmly rejected the video, labeling it a complete fabrication. Similarly, the CDU party dismissed the claims as "nonsense," while Merz's office issued a statement describing the video as "completely invented" and intended to "confuse and unnerve people."
Security officials suspect the creator of the video is "Storm-1516," an operation reportedly tied to Russian military intelligence. This group is also believed to have disseminated disinformation during the February 2025 general election, which resulted in Merz taking power through a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD). France’s Viginum agency, which monitors foreign disinformation, reports that Storm-1516 has been responsible for at least 77 disinformation operations targeting Western nations between late 2023 and March 2025.
Despite the attempt to mimic authentic reporting, the video contains a glaring factual error by referencing a "general federal election in September," a vote that is not scheduled to occur. While German media had previously speculated about leadership changes, the video serves as a clear example of common disinformation tactics designed to present false claims as established news. This incident occurs amid broader concerns regarding Moscow's efforts to undermine German support for Ukraine. German authorities recently acknowledged a "hybrid attack" scenario involving a drone carrying "professional explosives" found near a cargo plane at Leipzig-Halle airport, though officials have not yet officially assigned blame for that specific event.
