Authorities appear to have identified those responsible for the deepfake video announcing the resignation of Germany‘s Chancellor Friedrich Merz. A source close to German security services said on Friday (07/07) that authorities believe a group of Russian hackers operating under direct orders from the Kremlin is behind the fabricated video depicting the German Chancellor’s resignation.
Russian hackers behind the fake Merz resignation video
“The perpetrator is most likely Storm-1516,” a group directed by the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service, the source claimed. Storm-1516 is also believed to be responsible for spreading disinformation targeting candidates during France’s presidential elections.
The German government had accused this same group back in December of running a disinformation campaign ahead of Germany’s federal elections in February 2025.
Earlier this week, a video circulated on social media platforms purportedly announcing the resignation of Chancellor Merz.
“Merz will announce his resignation on August 10”
The video bore the Deutsche Welle logo and cited an alleged report by the German financial newspaper Handelsblatt, claiming it was based on “internal memos” from the leadership of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
It stated that Merz would announce his resignation on August 10 due to poor polling numbers, and that his most likely successor would be Hendrik Wüst, the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The goal was “to damage Merz’s reputation”
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, confirmed it was aware of the campaign, noting that — like others — it uses “logos of reputable media outlets to lend credibility” to its narrative.
According to the BfV, the objective was “to damage Merz’s reputation as Chancellor,” with the disinformation campaign broadly linked to the three upcoming regional and municipal elections scheduled for September in Germany.
On August 6, Handelsblatt denied ever publishing an article about an imminent Merz resignation. “This video is fake,” the newspaper stated emphatically.
Deutsche Welle published a fact-check on its website under the headline “No, Friedrich Merz is not planning to resign,” strongly implying the video was part of a Russian disinformation operation.
