Valentin Châtelet
@vchatelet.bsky.social
Research Associate, Security @DFRLab
Uralistics afficionado 🔆 & GIS engineer 🌐
Uralistics afficionado 🔆 & GIS engineer 🌐
🚨 The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned the AEZA Group. Listen to my podcast with Active Measures where I discuss Russia's collaboration with cybercriminal groups and their role in influence operations. AEZA is linked to Op. Doppelgänger & Blacksprut, a major dark web marketplace omny.fm/shows/active...
The Pravda Network with Valentin Chatelet - The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast
This week, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson welcome Valentin Chatelet, a research associate at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, for an urgent discussion of the Pravda Network--a Russia...
omny.fm
July 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM
🚨 The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned the AEZA Group. Listen to my podcast with Active Measures where I discuss Russia's collaboration with cybercriminal groups and their role in influence operations. AEZA is linked to Op. Doppelgänger & Blacksprut, a major dark web marketplace omny.fm/shows/active...
In this week's episode of the Active Measure Newsletter's podcast I was invited to discuss the content of our joint investigation with @dfrlab.bsky.social and @checkfirst.network on the Pravda Network and the consequences of the poisoning of LLMs & the targeting of Wikipedia
omny.fm/shows/active...
omny.fm/shows/active...
The Pravda Network with Valentin Chatelet - The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast
This week, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson welcome Valentin Chatelet, a research associate at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, for an urgent discussion of the Pravda Network--a Russia...
omny.fm
June 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
In this week's episode of the Active Measure Newsletter's podcast I was invited to discuss the content of our joint investigation with @dfrlab.bsky.social and @checkfirst.network on the Pravda Network and the consequences of the poisoning of LLMs & the targeting of Wikipedia
omny.fm/shows/active...
omny.fm/shows/active...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Last year, Russia imported 5.4 MILLION shipping containers.
After today’s historic attack, every single one is a potential weapon that Putin is terrified of.
Not only has Ukraine neutered Russia’s long-range air capability today, but they just crippled its supply chain & economy.
Utter genius.
After today’s historic attack, every single one is a potential weapon that Putin is terrified of.
Not only has Ukraine neutered Russia’s long-range air capability today, but they just crippled its supply chain & economy.
Utter genius.
June 1, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Last year, Russia imported 5.4 MILLION shipping containers.
After today’s historic attack, every single one is a potential weapon that Putin is terrified of.
Not only has Ukraine neutered Russia’s long-range air capability today, but they just crippled its supply chain & economy.
Utter genius.
After today’s historic attack, every single one is a potential weapon that Putin is terrified of.
Not only has Ukraine neutered Russia’s long-range air capability today, but they just crippled its supply chain & economy.
Utter genius.
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
💥🎙️In a leaked audio, Viktor Orbán's defense minister says Hungary's army is being reshaped “to break with the peace mentality and move toward phase zero of the road leading to war.”
It's unlikely he means a war against Russia — he was a business partner of Russia's Transmashholding.
👇Thread.👇
It's unlikely he means a war against Russia — he was a business partner of Russia's Transmashholding.
👇Thread.👇
May 8, 2025 at 8:11 AM
💥🎙️In a leaked audio, Viktor Orbán's defense minister says Hungary's army is being reshaped “to break with the peace mentality and move toward phase zero of the road leading to war.”
It's unlikely he means a war against Russia — he was a business partner of Russia's Transmashholding.
👇Thread.👇
It's unlikely he means a war against Russia — he was a business partner of Russia's Transmashholding.
👇Thread.👇
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
How Dare You Transmit at 1.4 GHz!
A NASA satellite built to measure soil moisture just mapped out electronic warfare across UA and western RU. Using open data, we visualized high-powered jamming and spoofing activity at 1.4 GHz radioandnukes.substack.com/p/how-dare-y...
A NASA satellite built to measure soil moisture just mapped out electronic warfare across UA and western RU. Using open data, we visualized high-powered jamming and spoofing activity at 1.4 GHz radioandnukes.substack.com/p/how-dare-y...
How Dare You Transmit at 1.4 GHz!
It was launched to measure moisture. Now it’s ghost-trailing jammers across an electronic battlefield.
radioandnukes.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
How Dare You Transmit at 1.4 GHz!
A NASA satellite built to measure soil moisture just mapped out electronic warfare across UA and western RU. Using open data, we visualized high-powered jamming and spoofing activity at 1.4 GHz radioandnukes.substack.com/p/how-dare-y...
A NASA satellite built to measure soil moisture just mapped out electronic warfare across UA and western RU. Using open data, we visualized high-powered jamming and spoofing activity at 1.4 GHz radioandnukes.substack.com/p/how-dare-y...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
"Google and Meta accounted for at least half the record £42.6bn spent on UK advertising last year, according to Press Gazette estimates." pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/go...
Google and Meta's vast estimated UK earnings revealed
Google and Meta advertising market share for 2024: US tech giants made around £25.4bn in UK alone last year.
pressgazette.co.uk
May 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM
"Google and Meta accounted for at least half the record £42.6bn spent on UK advertising last year, according to Press Gazette estimates." pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/go...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
At least 30 Ukrainian journalists remain in Russian captivity as of April, IMI reported, with little known about their health conditions or whereabouts. Multiple reports have revealed that Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) are tortured and killed while in Russian captivity.
Russia's torture of Viktoriia Roshchyna shocks world, but dozens of Ukrainian journalists still in captivity
It took several DNA tests to confirm the identity of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who was killed in Russian captivity in the fall of 2024.
Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in August 2023 while...
kyivindependent.com
May 1, 2025 at 10:45 AM
At least 30 Ukrainian journalists remain in Russian captivity as of April, IMI reported, with little known about their health conditions or whereabouts. Multiple reports have revealed that Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) are tortured and killed while in Russian captivity.
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
EPP calls for sanctions on Ivanishvili, non-recognition of GD parliament, and backing Zurabishvili as the only legitimate representative of the Georgian people. It also calls on the GD to set a specific date for new parliamentary elections.
EPP’s Resolution Calls for Sanctions on Ivanishvili and New Elections - Civil Georgia
The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, adopted a
civil.ge
May 1, 2025 at 10:57 AM
EPP calls for sanctions on Ivanishvili, non-recognition of GD parliament, and backing Zurabishvili as the only legitimate representative of the Georgian people. It also calls on the GD to set a specific date for new parliamentary elections.
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Ever wondered how many “Pravda” articles go live every hour, where they originate or the paths they take?
With @vchatelet.bsky.social we decided to build the first Pravda Dashboard offering real‑time windows into Russia’s “Portal Kombat” disinformation network
#osint #russia #disinformation
With @vchatelet.bsky.social we decided to build the first Pravda Dashboard offering real‑time windows into Russia’s “Portal Kombat” disinformation network
#osint #russia #disinformation
Pravda in numbers - Content and Network analysis
Interactive dashboard visualizing patterns, language distribution, domain connections and more across the Pravda Russian network.
portal-kombat.com
April 18, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Ever wondered how many “Pravda” articles go live every hour, where they originate or the paths they take?
With @vchatelet.bsky.social we decided to build the first Pravda Dashboard offering real‑time windows into Russia’s “Portal Kombat” disinformation network
#osint #russia #disinformation
With @vchatelet.bsky.social we decided to build the first Pravda Dashboard offering real‑time windows into Russia’s “Portal Kombat” disinformation network
#osint #russia #disinformation
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) detained a russian spy in Kyiv who was preparing terrorist attacks near defense facilities.
April 17, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) detained a russian spy in Kyiv who was preparing terrorist attacks near defense facilities.
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Russia’s push for control over the occupied Abkhazia is evident in reopening the decades-closed Sukhumi Babushara Airport and a test flight from Moscow.
Read more by my colleagues @sopogelava.bsky.social and @vchatelet.bsky.social:
Read more by my colleagues @sopogelava.bsky.social and @vchatelet.bsky.social:
Russia expands its strategic footprint in occupied Abkhazia
The reopening of the decades-closed Sukhumi Babushara Airport and a test flight from Moscow demonstrate Russia’s push for control over occupied Abkhazia.
dfrlab.org
April 17, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Russia’s push for control over the occupied Abkhazia is evident in reopening the decades-closed Sukhumi Babushara Airport and a test flight from Moscow.
Read more by my colleagues @sopogelava.bsky.social and @vchatelet.bsky.social:
Read more by my colleagues @sopogelava.bsky.social and @vchatelet.bsky.social:
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
What do #Wikipedia, #LLms, & #X have in common? They’ve all been quietly infiltrated by the Pravda network—a sprawling web of pro-Kremlin sites posing as news outlets. @vchatelet.bsky.social BlueSky explores #PravdaNetwork w/ @checkfirst.network in this week's the Source: bit.ly/3EcgvpZ
April 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM
What do #Wikipedia, #LLms, & #X have in common? They’ve all been quietly infiltrated by the Pravda network—a sprawling web of pro-Kremlin sites posing as news outlets. @vchatelet.bsky.social BlueSky explores #PravdaNetwork w/ @checkfirst.network in this week's the Source: bit.ly/3EcgvpZ
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
If the West — the UK 🇬🇧 in particular — doesn’t act now with targeted sanctions, it’ll be too late to hurt the dictatorship before it cements its rule and fortune.
Time is running out.⌛️
Time is running out.⌛️
March 29, 2025 at 10:48 AM
If the West — the UK 🇬🇧 in particular — doesn’t act now with targeted sanctions, it’ll be too late to hurt the dictatorship before it cements its rule and fortune.
Time is running out.⌛️
Time is running out.⌛️
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
[Hybrid warfare] 🧵hey @viginum.bsky.social , here is our take: Global Kombat, the Russian one-stop shop for influence goes global
alleyesonwagner.org/2025/03/25/g...
alleyesonwagner.org/2025/03/25/g...
Global Kombat
The Russian one-stop shop for influence goes global The Pravda Network, initially identified by French disinformation watchdog Viginum, has recently expanded its scope of topics, targeted countries…
alleyesonwagner.org
March 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
[Hybrid warfare] 🧵hey @viginum.bsky.social , here is our take: Global Kombat, the Russian one-stop shop for influence goes global
alleyesonwagner.org/2025/03/25/g...
alleyesonwagner.org/2025/03/25/g...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
NEW! Two former U.S officials overseeing Ukraine policy raised alarms over the potential shutdown of a vital Yale unit that has played a key role in gathering evidence on russian war crimes in Ukraine, as the program will run out of funding this weekend👇🏻
kyivpost.com/post/49579
kyivpost.com/post/49579
March 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
NEW! Two former U.S officials overseeing Ukraine policy raised alarms over the potential shutdown of a vital Yale unit that has played a key role in gathering evidence on russian war crimes in Ukraine, as the program will run out of funding this weekend👇🏻
kyivpost.com/post/49579
kyivpost.com/post/49579
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
🇬🇪Georgia is quietly undergoing a dramatic geopolitical shift. Under Georgian Dream and its informal leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country is accelerating its alignment with Iran (and China and Russia)—abandoning its Western orientation.
🧵A thread on why this matters.
1/16
🧵A thread on why this matters.
1/16
March 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
🇬🇪Georgia is quietly undergoing a dramatic geopolitical shift. Under Georgian Dream and its informal leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country is accelerating its alignment with Iran (and China and Russia)—abandoning its Western orientation.
🧵A thread on why this matters.
1/16
🧵A thread on why this matters.
1/16
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Subjugation is exactly the right word @orelb.bsky.social
It is rather unfortunate that Georgia's Eurovision song this year is a ballad that speaks about the homeland and freedom. The sweet Edelweiss vibes aside, it is sung by a proponent of the ruling party, which stands for really anything but freedom – it most notably stands for Putinist subjugation.
March 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Subjugation is exactly the right word @orelb.bsky.social
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
NEW 🚨 The #Pravdanetwork—a Russia-linked disinformation operation—has infiltrated #Wikipedia, AI chatbots, and #X, spreading pro-Kremlin narratives globally.
@vchatelet.bsky.social & @checkfirst.network
reveal the scale of this content pollution: bit.ly/3R6XW9l
@vchatelet.bsky.social & @checkfirst.network
reveal the scale of this content pollution: bit.ly/3R6XW9l
Russia-linked Pravda network cited on Wikipedia, LLMs, and X
Pro-Kremlin content pollutes sources on multiple platforms, sparking worries of false claims and sanctioned content reaching global audiences
bit.ly
March 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
NEW 🚨 The #Pravdanetwork—a Russia-linked disinformation operation—has infiltrated #Wikipedia, AI chatbots, and #X, spreading pro-Kremlin narratives globally.
@vchatelet.bsky.social & @checkfirst.network
reveal the scale of this content pollution: bit.ly/3R6XW9l
@vchatelet.bsky.social & @checkfirst.network
reveal the scale of this content pollution: bit.ly/3R6XW9l
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Last weekend I tried to get a correction from Matt Taibbi on a basic “mistake”: claiming a report I wrote was source of the stat that 126MM people saw Russian influence op content on FB. Rather than correct, he fought me. He made more “mistakes”. Hilarity ensued.
open.substack.com/pub/reneedir...
open.substack.com/pub/reneedir...
An Object Lesson in Bad-Faith Media
Matt Taibbi and the Futility of Getting a Correction from Someone Who Won't Admit They're Wrong
open.substack.com
March 9, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Last weekend I tried to get a correction from Matt Taibbi on a basic “mistake”: claiming a report I wrote was source of the stat that 126MM people saw Russian influence op content on FB. Rather than correct, he fought me. He made more “mistakes”. Hilarity ensued.
open.substack.com/pub/reneedir...
open.substack.com/pub/reneedir...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Two excellent lecturers, Ira Kherkheulidze & Giorgi Tsertsvadze, have been dismissed from Tbilisi State University on political grounds. Both are exceptional educators and principled citizens. Academic freedom... [1/2]
March 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Two excellent lecturers, Ira Kherkheulidze & Giorgi Tsertsvadze, have been dismissed from Tbilisi State University on political grounds. Both are exceptional educators and principled citizens. Academic freedom... [1/2]
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
SCOOP—Emails obtained by @zeteo.com show Mahmoud Khalil reached out for help from the Columbia administration *one day before* ICE detained him.
He said he couldn't sleep from threats he was receiving.
He even wrote that he feared ICE "might come to my home."
He said he couldn't sleep from threats he was receiving.
He even wrote that he feared ICE "might come to my home."
SCOOP: Emails Show Mahmoud Khalil Asked Columbia for Protection a Day Before He Was Detained
"I haven’t been able to sleep, fearing that ICE or a dangerous individual might come to my home. I urge you to intervene and provide the necessary protections to prevent further harm."
zeteo.com
March 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
SCOOP—Emails obtained by @zeteo.com show Mahmoud Khalil reached out for help from the Columbia administration *one day before* ICE detained him.
He said he couldn't sleep from threats he was receiving.
He even wrote that he feared ICE "might come to my home."
He said he couldn't sleep from threats he was receiving.
He even wrote that he feared ICE "might come to my home."
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Now BBC reports both ships on fire and crew abandoning ships. FU. Hope they make it...
Great reporting from BBC here:
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
Great reporting from BBC here:
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
Oil tanker and cargo vessel collide in North Sea
Lifeboats and firefighting teams are on the scene, after two ships collide off the coast of East Yorkshire.
www.bbc.com
March 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Now BBC reports both ships on fire and crew abandoning ships. FU. Hope they make it...
Great reporting from BBC here:
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
Great reporting from BBC here:
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
From Marine Traffic, here's the moment of the crash between the oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and a cargo vessel MV Solong. Live updates here www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live...
March 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
From Marine Traffic, here's the moment of the crash between the oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and a cargo vessel MV Solong. Live updates here www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
The American aerospace company Maxar Technologies has disabled Ukraine's access to its satellite images.
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...
Maxar відключив Україні доступ до своїх супутникових знімків
Американська компанія Maxar Technologies відключила доступ до своїх комерційних супутникових знімків користувачам з України
mil.in.ua
March 7, 2025 at 6:56 AM
The American aerospace company Maxar Technologies has disabled Ukraine's access to its satellite images.
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...
Reposted by Valentin Châtelet
Reports in the Ukrainian press that Maxar had cut of the Ukrainians access to Maxar imagery, including commercial imagery, at the request of the US administration
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...
Maxar відключив Україні доступ до своїх супутникових знімків
Американська компанія Maxar Technologies відключила доступ до своїх комерційних супутникових знімків користувачам з України
mil.in.ua
March 7, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reports in the Ukrainian press that Maxar had cut of the Ukrainians access to Maxar imagery, including commercial imagery, at the request of the US administration
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...
mil.in.ua/uk/news/maxa...