A Russian bot network is reportedly targeting upcoming elections in France and Germany, according to Magnus Hjort, director general of the Swedish Defence Authority for Psychological Defence. Hjort, who oversees efforts to counter disinformation in Sweden, stated that Russia sees opportunities to polarize and divide Western societies during the upcoming European elections, particularly the French presidential election. This concern comes as European countries prepare for multiple elections, with France's first round of its presidential race scheduled for April 18, 2027, and the second round on May 2, 2027. The Swedish agency, established in 2022, focuses on protecting Sweden's democracy by countering disinformation and increasing societal resilience. It has conducted studies on Russian influence, with recent reports highlighting Moscow's imperial ambitions. Although the agency has examined risks related to Sweden's own legislative elections, Hjort emphasized that Russia is more interested in targeting larger European countries, such as France and Germany, during their elections. In France, several presidential candidates, including Gabriel Attal and Raphaël Glucksmann, have already faced Russian disinformation campaigns, according to French authorities. Earlier this year, European governments condemned a large-scale cyber campaign by Russia targeting multiple countries. Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been accused of conducting a hybrid war against European allies, using tactics such as troll farms and networks of fake social media accounts to spread false information. Hjort's agency has identified a bot network linked to an unnamed state, responsible for managing 1,200 X (formerly Twitter) accounts targeting several countries, including Russia. He urged social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to take stronger action against these bot networks. "We need to find better ways to protect our democracies," Hjort said, emphasizing the need for greater collaboration with technology companies and European governments to effectively counter such threats.