Since its announcement, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl is seen as an emblem of Ukrainian resilience. Developed by GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio, this game was born in a war context and was partly finalized during bombings. Some members of the team were mobilized to the front. This game, eagerly awaited for years, has attracted a large audience, both for its qualities and for its strong symbolism in the face of the Russian invasion.
According to 404media, a disinformation campaign, orchestrated by Russian actors, therefore aims S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2. A falsified video is circulating on Telegram and by email, accusing the game of collecting player data to identify men who can be mobilized by the Ukrainian government. These accusations are mainly aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its allies. The video, claiming to be produced by Wired, was quickly denounced as false, but it is part of a network of disinformation identified by organizations including the Atlantic Council and EU DisinfoLab.
This campaign is part of Operation DoppelGänger, which leverages fake websites and bots to amplify pro-Russian narratives. The messages broadcast aim to fuel tensions in Europe and to destabilize public opinion, by particularly targeting Ukraine, its allies and their cultural or technological projects.
