This report demonstrates that the methodology we used in our previous investigation into the infrastructure of the FSB’s 16th Center is efficient and can be easily replicated in further research. We will continue our research into decorations linked to the GRU’s VIO, and will extend our investigations to other Russian security and intelligence services in the months ahead.
Read the full report:
https://checkfirst.network/
Contact us:
info@checkfirst.network
Read our full #investigation 🔗 checkfirst.network/unveiling-g...
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter 🔗 checkfirst.network/newsletter/
Thanks for reading!
09.02.2026 10:23 —
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Report cover showing a dark blue patch with crossed sword, arrow and scroll emblem, titled "Unveiling GRU's Information Operations Troops (VIO)"
🔴 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧
Last year, we've been able to unearth the infrastructure of the FSB's 16th Centre, combining #OSINT techniques and photos of old medals. We replicated this method to explore the Information Operations Troops (#VIO) of #Russia’s military intelligence service (#GRU).
09.02.2026 10:23 —
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C'est aujourd'hui ! OUT, LA PROM🌈 Venez assister au show flamboyant hosté par @minimageste.bsky.social, avec King Fu, Pablo Sainte Verge et Stan la Believance, suivi d'un set avec DJ Jean-Rémi aux platines🪩
Lien de la billetterie en bio🎟️
15.11.2025 14:25 —
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#Disinfo2025 conference, before the overture panel.
👋 On October 15 and 16, we attended #Disinfo2025, the @disinfo.eu's annual conference. This year, over 600 participants gathered in Ljubljana, Slovenia, for two days of discussions centered around many aspects of #disinformation.
27.10.2025 10:35 —
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Agrandissez la Brèche ! - Journal La Brèche
Financement participatif organisé par Journal La Brèche - L’information est attaquée de toute part, faisons-la percer : Abonnez-vous ou faites un don pour soutenir l'indépendance de notre journal.
Défendez la presse libre ! C'est parti : le journal d'enquête La Brèche lance sa campagne d'abonnement. 25 ou 35€ (soutien) pour 6 numéros papier (soit 1 an et demi) pour des sujets originaux mêlant : environnement, santé et impact de la Tech...
Obj. 600 abonnés!
www.helloasso.com/associations...
29.09.2025 08:00 —
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How to use RADAR (Regulatory Assessment for Digital Services Act Risks)
The RADAR framework is divided in 12 infringements categories: illegal content-related, transparency and reporting, consumer protection and market fairness, platform accountability and cooperation, minor protection and safety online, illegal content and goods, disinformation and manipulated media, dark patterns an manipulative design, targeted adertisements & profiling, data access and scrutiny, compliance function, and cyber violence.
Each infringement has a unique ID (eg., cr_01 for “Platform failure to take action against Illegal Content”), a description, and observables that help identify DSA violations. You can use the search feature (CTRL+K) to find a specific infringement.
After finding matching infringements, it’s time to complete your report by using the RADAR tag generator:
- Remember to use the latest version of RADAR.
- Be as precise as possible.
- Evidences must be referenced in your main report.
- Add all relevant infringements.
When your template is generated, copy it and use it as an annex at the end of your report.
Do’s:
Be specific about what you observed.
Tag all relevant infringements.
Reference evidence in your main report.
Use the latest RADAR version.
Include dates and platform versions.
Don’t:
Force-fit observations to tags.
Use tags without evidence.
Modify the tag IDs.
Skip the observable matching step.
Forget to specify RADAR version.
🔹 Now that we have introduced RADAR, it's time to have a closer look at the framework's functionalities. This short, step-by-step guide will help you properly implement the tagging system in your workflow.
More info: radar.checkfirst.network/help
17.09.2025 10:37 —
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📢 On 18 Sept, we explore how AI-driven Russian propaganda campaigns target media.
📚Insights on tactics to target fact-checkers, media, and global audiences.
🎙Featuring @allxbo.bsky.social from @reset.tech and @g.checkfirst.network from @checkfirst.network
🔗Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
11.09.2025 15:14 —
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🔵 NEW UPDATE
The version 1.8 of RADAR is out, is now available, offering greater clarity and accuracy to the framework. Find out more by reading @checkfirst.network's latest blogpost! ⤵
05.09.2025 08:46 —
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Unit 03110 (1975): The oldest insignia linked to this unit features symbols such as tropical palms and a flag that confirm that it was previously stationed in Lourdes (Cuba), before being relocated close to Sotchi (Russia) in the late 2000s. Among the ten bases we have identified, this one is the only one that equipped its antennas with radomes designed to protect the equipment from weather and hide its orientation and specifications from unwanted eyes. These domes, which may contain a radar or a dish antenna, are even depicted on one of the unit's insignia, which also portrays the facility facing the sea, with mountains in the background.
Unit 61608 (1918): The unit's insignia frequently feature symbolic representations of Moscow, including the Kremlin. The unit hosts more than a dozen parabolic antennas near the T-shaped control building, as well as pole antennas arranged in an antenna array slightly further north. It is situated south of Tsaritsyno Park, concealed within a dense forest in the heart of Moscow.
Each interception centre also has a unique way of depicting itself through its insignia, as can be seen in these two examples from our report.
18.07.2025 07:36 —
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How the 16th Center depicts itself: The standard format of the shield and sword, symbols inherited from the KGB ; The Russian coat of arms (a double-headed eagle clutching a scepter and an orb surmounted by a cross, representing imperial authority and the Orthodox Church, respectively) ; A red background, a colour traditionally associated with the FSB.
The Center portrays itself in two distinct ways: A terrestrial globe featuring the Russian Cyrillic letter "i". This letter is commonly associated with the Russian word "information" in Soviet and Russian security services, and could be a reference to the information the unit is capable of acquiring ; An antenna positioned next to a key being shattered by a lightning bolt. The antenna is a fairly common symbol of radio transmissions, but is also used to represent signals intelligence (SIGINT). The lightning bolt symbolizes the interception, disruption, and manipulation of enemy communications and radar systems. The key shattered by the lightning bolt is highly likely an explicit reference to cryptanalysis, the branch of cryptography dedicated to breaking codes and cryptographic systems.
Thanks to phaleristics, we were able to gain insight into the unit's current
symbolism.
18.07.2025 07:36 —
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Cover of our research "Decoding Secrets With Medals: How Military Insignia Revealed Russia’s Hidden SIGINT Network"
Today, we are proud to publish our latest investigation into the FSB’s 16th Center, publicly accused of operating some of Russia's most sophisticated cyber-espionage groups.
🔗 checkfirst.network/decoding-se...
18.07.2025 07:36 —
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🎉 #Disinfo2025 draft programme is out!
Four tracks packed with workshops, interviews, and sessions on AI, policy, cross-border influence ops & more.
Find it all here 👇
disinfo2025.mitto.app/programme
⏰ Haven’t got your ticket yet? Now’s the time 👇
www.disinfo.eu/conference
03.07.2025 08:09 —
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Our cover depicting "Operation Overload", featuring a blurry silhouette alongside screenshots and laptops.
🔴 NEW REPORT
Alongside @reset.tech, we publish our third investigation into Operation Overload. ⤵️
26.06.2025 07:57 —
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J’avais travaillé sur le sujet pour un mag santé il y a quelques années. J’ai sollicité des témoignages de la part de personnes qui avaient dit avoir été victimes sur Insta et TikTok. Malgré mes prises de contact, zéro réponse.
21.06.2025 10:37 —
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Présidentielle en #Roumanie : 2 sondages sortie des urnes:
54% Nicusor Dan
46% Simion
Mais la diaspora n'est pas comptée. Énorme participation de celle-ci: 1,6 millions d'électeurs. Participation record de 65% au total.
Simion a toutefois annoncé qu'il avait "gagné"
18.05.2025 18:15 —
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European Citizens' Initiative
Give your support !
Plus que 4 jours pour signer la campagne pour l'interdiction des « thérapies » de conversion dans l'union Européenne !
Prenez 30 sec de votre temps pour signer : eci.ec.europa.eu/043/public/
Le reboost est d'utilité publique 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
#lgbtqia #signature #feminisme #petition
13.05.2025 14:26 —
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Désinfox soutient le collectif de journalistes qui a élaboré la Charte de Marseille, qui sera présentée aujourd'hui aux Assises du Journalisme & Citoyenneté.
29.04.2025 05:52 —
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Pravda in numbers - Content and Network analysis
Interactive dashboard visualizing patterns, language distribution, domain connections and more across the Pravda Russian network.
Today, in collaboration with @dfrlab.bsky.social, we pull back the curtain with the #Pravda Dashboard, a live, hour‑by‑hour tracker of #Russia’s Portal Kombat network. Follow each article’s journey, trace domain footprints, spot language‑shifts and watch targeting patterns unfold!
portal-kombat.com
18.04.2025 10:44 —
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Indeed! The official Check First newsletter - CheckFirst
Subscribe to our newsletter and get a monthly recap of the latest news from CheckFirst straight in your inbox
The April edition of our newsletter "Indeed" is out! While new presidential elections in Romania are coming, it features new findings about the influence of digital platforms on public opinion.
Read the newsletter: r.crossover.social/3gku9l7xzlx...
Subscribe: https://checkfirst.network/newsletter/
14.04.2025 08:10 —
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Aujourd’hui, c’est la Journée internationale de l'#Asexualité. 🥳 L’asexualité est une orientation sexuelle d’une personne (asexuelle) qui ne ressent pas ou peu d’attirance sexuelle pour une autre personne. Quelques rappels ⤵️
06.04.2025 05:51 —
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Alternant⋅e Journaliste
Mediapart recherche un·e Alternant.e Journaliste Mediapart est un journal d'information indépendant lancé en 2008. Depuis 17 ans, il s'est imposé par ses scoops, investigations, reportages et analys…
Mediapart recherche deux alternant·es journalistes 🔎
📍 Poste à pourvoir entre le mois de septembre 2025 et le mois d’aout 2026
✉️ Candidatures à recrutement-alternance@mediapart.fr
🗓 Deadline pour répondre : 30 avril 2025.
#Emploi #Job #Alternance #Journalisme
31.03.2025 15:35 —
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Le 31 mars marque la journée internationale de visibilité transgenre, aussi connue sous le nom de #TDoV pour « Trans Day of Visibility». Et nous avions des choses à vous dire ⤵️
31.03.2025 09:09 —
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Procès du RN: inéligibilité avec exécution immédiate pour Marine Le Pen et ses coprévenus
31.03.2025 10:09 —
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Gaza Project - Forbidden Stories
Gaza Project Français English Il fallait s’unir Près de 170 journalistes palestiniens ont été tués dans la bande de Gaza, après qu’Israël a lancé une guerre de représailles aux attaques terroristes du...
Aujourd’hui sort le deuxième volet du #GazaProject, coordonné par @forbidden-stories.bsky.social, parce que les mois passent et les journalistes de Gaza continuent d’être des cibles, de se faire tuer, harceler, car ils n’ont jamais cessé de documenter l’horreur.
forbiddenstories.org/fr/projects_...
27.03.2025 17:11 —
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