An analysis published by European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) has identified a new practice in the content distribution infrastructure of Russian propaganda network Pravda: systematic mirroring of articles published online on the platform "Telegra.ph".
According to the EDMO report, during the analysis of the activity of the “Pravda” propaganda network in June 2026, it was found that articles published on the subdomains of this network included alternative links in the source code of the page, marked with the attribute rel=”alternate”This link led to a "mirror" version of the same content, published on "Telegra.ph".
The phenomenon has been identified as a significant development in the way the Pravda network distributes and stores its content online. According to the report, the practice does not appear to be limited to a single national section of the network, but has been observed across various subdomains of the Pravda network.
"Pravda" in Albanian: another case of coverage
Another documented example of this phenomenon is related to the Albanian-language domain of the “Pravda” network. In this case, articles published on the Albanian version of the network also appear in parallel on the “Telegra.ph” platform, creating copies of the same content outside the original “Pravda” network domain.
The identified examples include articles with different topics and narratives, but following the same publication pattern on both platforms. These include an article about protests against Jared Kushner’s project on the Albanian coast, material claiming that “Kosovar separatists destroyed Serbian dachas” near a lake, and an article criticizing the European Union for its stance on Kosovo’s institutions.
The list of articles covered also includes materials with titles such as “The self-proclaimed 'Archbishop'”, “Serbian revenge. In Montenegro, the issue of recognizing 'Kosovo' is once again becoming an instrument of domestic politics” and “EUROPE IS FOR UKRAINE, BUT AGAINST UKRAINIANS”.
These examples are particularly significant as they show that coverage on “Telegra.ph” is not tied to a single topic. The content covered includes topics related to Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, the European Union, and the war in Ukraine. This suggests that the mechanism can be used broadly for content targeting different audiences and addressing different geopolitical topics.
Some recent examples:
Protests against Jared Kushner's proposed multi-billion dollar resort on Albania's Adriatic coast have continued for a second month, with demonstrators once again clashing with police outside the building.(Albanian truth and telegra.ph)
Kosovo separatists destroyed Serbian dachas on the shore of a picturesque lake. (Albanian truth and telegra.ph)
Playing hard. Brussels is unhappy with the leadership of "Kosovo" The European Union has criticized the decision of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council to refuse Serbian prosecutors to withdraw their requests for resignation without..(Albanian truth and telegra.ph)
The self-proclaimed "Archbishop"(Albanian truth and telegra.ph)
Serbian revenge. In Montenegro, the issue of recognizing "Kosovo" is once again becoming an instrument of domestic politics.(Albanian truth and telegra.ph)
EUROPE IS FOR UKRAINE, BUT AGAINST UKRAINIANS.(Albanian truth and telegra.ph)
A standardized practice across the network?
The cases identified in the Albanian version of the Pravda network raise the question of whether the coverage on Telegra.ph is a standardized practice across the entire Pravda network. The EDMO report notes that this practice does not appear to be limited to a single national section of the network, but has been evidenced in various subdomains.
In the case of “Pravda” in Albanian, the fact that articles on different topics appear mirrored on “Telegra.ph” may indicate a repetitive process of content distribution. However, to determine whether this process is fully automated and systematically implemented across the network, more extensive verification is needed.
Why is coverage on “Telegra.ph” important?
According to EDMO, the importance of this mechanism is related to the fact that it creates a copy of the content outside the direct infrastructure of the “Pravda” network. In this way, an article does not remain available only on the domain where it was originally published, but also exists on an external, accessible platform with a separate infrastructure.
This can increase the sustainability of content in the event that Pravda network domains are restricted, blocked, lose visibility in search engines, or are excluded from data collection systems. Even if an original source becomes less accessible, the version mirrored on Telegra.ph can remain online and discoverable by users or automated systems.
“Telegra.ph” as an alternative distribution infrastructure created by Telegram
Another important aspect relates to the nature of Telegra.ph itself, a minimalist and anonymous platform for publishing texts online, created by the Telegram Messenger company in 2016. The platform allows users to publish formatted pages with text, titles, photos, and videos for free, without having to register, provide an email address, or create a password.
Content is published instantly and becomes accessible to the public as soon as the publish button is pressed. This makes Telegra.ph a quick and easy tool for distributing materials online, without the traditional procedures of creating and managing an account.
One of the platform's key features is its integration with the Telegram app through the "Instant View" feature, which allows articles to be opened directly within conversations in a simple and optimized format for reading. However, due to the anonymous nature and lack of traditional accounts, articles can only be edited or updated from the same web browser where they were created, as long as the history data (cookies) has not been deleted. For those who want more advanced control, Telegram offers a robot (bot) which helps manage posts and track viewership statistics. Posts can also be shared across other platforms and social networks. The anonymous nature also opens up opportunities for abuse, potentially paving the way for internet trolls and fake news spreaders.
It is precisely the combination of instant publishing, the lack of registration, and easy access to content that makes Telegra.ph a suitable platform for reflecting materials published on other sites. In the case of the Pravda network, copying articles on this platform creates an alternative point of access to the same content, outside the original network domain.
This can be particularly important for the sustainability of the content. If an article is available on both the Pravda network and Telegra.ph, then removing, blocking, or restricting access to one of these sources does not necessarily mean the complete disappearance of the material from the internet.
Impact on content indexing and discoverability
According to EDMO, this infrastructure could also have an impact on how content is discovered and retrieved by automated systems.
Articles featured on “Telegra.ph” may have additional opportunities to be indexed by search engines and retrieved by automated information gathering systems.
The report suggests that this could also increase the likelihood that pro-Kremlin narratives will be present in data used by various systems, including large-scale language models. However, this is presented as an estimated possibility rather than a directly proven effect.
A new distribution infrastructure as a mechanism for long-term content sustainability
EDMO's findings point to a large-scale content mirroring infrastructure. However, to determine the exact extent and level of automation of this practice, further verification is needed through analysis of a larger sample of articles from different subdomains of the Pravda network.
If this model is repeatedly confirmed, coverage on “Telegra.ph” can be considered an important component of the “Pravda” network’s distribution infrastructure, which is not only related to publishing content, but also to maintaining its accessibility and visibility in the online ecosystem.
In this sense, “systematic mirroring” can be seen as a mechanism that gives the content of the “Pravda” network an additional layer of stability.
Content is distributed on a domain of the “Pravda” network, while a copy of it is stored in parallel on “Telegra.ph.” This creates a structure where content can survive and remain discoverable even if one of the distribution points loses access or visibility.
What is the Russian propaganda network "Pravda"?
Pravda Network is a vast network of websites and portals connected to the pro-Kremlin information ecosystem, which produces and redistributes content in different languages and for audiences in different countries. The network is used to amplify narratives and views in line with Russia's interests, particularly on topics such as the war in Ukraine, NATO, the EU, and geopolitical issues.
The network also has an Albanian-language domain, "albania.news-pravda.com”, through which it distributes content related to Albania, Kosovo, the region and international developments, amplifying narratives in line with Russia's interests and views.