Myndigheten för psykologiskt försvar
JAMES PAMMENT &
DAREJAN TSURTSUMIA
Beyond Operation
Doppelgänger:
A Capability Assessment of
the Social Design Agency
MPF REPORT SERIES 8/2025
Beyond operation doppelgänger: a CapaBility assessment of the soCial design agenCy
© Psychological Defence Agency
Date: 2025-05-12
Photo: ©Valerii Tkachenko/Wikimedia Commons
Production: Gritti Agency
ISBN: 978-91-989646-3-9
Texts originally in Russian that have been translated to English are marked in red.
Preface
Funding and communicating research as well as disseminating knowledge are vital parts of the core remit for the Psychological Defence Agency. This groundbreaking report, published jointly by Lund University and the Psychological Defence Agency, written by James Pamment and Darejan Tsurtsumia at Lund University provides new and detailed insights on the Russian Social Design Agency (SDA) and its network in what has been commonly known as the ‘Doppelgänger campaign’.
The authors dive deep beyond the surface based on over 3000 leaked documents from SDA analysing in great detail capabilities, methods, tactics, internal communication and overall objectives. Moreover, the authors frame the analysis in a strategic context presenting a strong argument for the view that SDA is part of a state-backed and long-term information war.
As is common in academia, the authors provide some criticism of previous writings on their subject matter (the Doppelgänger campaign), especially within what the authors call “the counter-FIMI community”. At a time, when there is a major war in Europe, when democracy is being pushed back globally, when hybrid warfare is being used against us by authoritarian states on an everyday basis, it’s crucial that we can look upon ourselves with somewhat critical eyes and that we can evaluate our work when countering FIMI. Here, research results from free academia is of utmost importance, and indeed plays a pivotal role when it comes to uphold and safeguard our democracies.
In the concluding chapter, the authors also provide a few thought-provoking suggestions, not necessarily shared by the Psychological Defence Agency, on how the counter-FIMI community, should address present and future threats. I’m sure this will contribute to constructive discussions ahead on how to confront and adapt to this reality.