New research has exposed a targeted Russian operation looking to ‘fan divisions’ between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

A Russian intelligence operation has been spreading ‘fake news’ on social media in the hopes of stirring up tensions in Northern Ireland.

The research was carried out by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) who found that the Russian operation targeted many western countries.

Published over the weekend, the report concluded that: ‘between March 2018 and April 2019, the operation ran at least three false stories targeting Ireland and forged documents and social media posts to support its claims’.

The stories targeted DUP leader Arlene Foster, then-British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson while one sensational effort claimed that Islamic fighters were being recruited by the Real IRA.

Fortunately, none of the stories gained any traction online due to the fact that the social media accounts that were attempting to launch them had little to no following.

With the operation apparently obsessed with secrecy, the Russians behind it were hesitant to put push the fake content too hard.

However, the report notes that on every occasion, the abhorrent purpose of the operation ‘was to exacerbate the already raw divides in Ireland and the United Kingdom.’