LONDON, July 17, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Pro-Russian bot networks have targeted Ukrainians in Moscow-controlled regions, posting thousands of comments on social media criticising Kyiv and praising the occupiers, analysts said Wednesday.

Russia occupies around a fifth of Ukraine and has claimed four regions since its 2022 invasion -- in addition to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. It has set up new media in these regions, including television channels.

Pro-Russian bots posted on Telegram groups used by Ukrainians in occupied regions from 2024 onwards, said a think tank report titled "Digital occupation".

It was released by the Digital Forensic Research Lab of the Atlantic Council, an American think tank, and OpenMinds cognitive defence tech company, which works with governments including Ukraine.

It said the bot comments were aimed at "manufacturing an artificial consensus in favour of Russia" in occupied areas.

Telegram is widely used by Russians and Ukrainians to follow news. It allows users to post regular updates on channels, whose subscribers can comment.

Short-lived "disposable" bots posed as genuine people commenting on posts while often using meaningless names, the report found.

These bots "did not engage in actual discussion" with others and some messages made little sense, suggesting the use of generative AI, the report said.

One post said: "Lord, how wonderful that Putin advocates for the use of peaceful weapons".

But the comments presented a "unified message of a strong and successful Russia and a corrupt Ukraine," the report said.

Main topics included support for Russian President Vladimir Putin -- mentioned over 5,000 times -- and "admiration for the Russian army", analysts found.

By far the most common theme was criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian leadership -- in over 48,000 comments posted between January 2024 and April 2025.

Accusations included corruption, drug use and claims of illegitimacy or tyranny, the report said.

This was followed by broader criticism of Ukrainian authorities and actions on the front -- 13,500 comments -- and criticism of the collective West -- 11,798 comments.

These comments could be used to "manipulate the perception of public opinion within the occupied territories," the report said, and as "justification for Russian control" in potential peace talks.

"A high volume of comments expressing a certain viewpoint can create the impression that it represents the majority opinion in a community, regardless of whether that is actually the case," it said.