Ahead of and during the Munich Security Conference, scheduled to take place in Germany on 13–15 February 2026, the intelligence services of the aggressor state, the russian federation, plan to conduct a large-scale hybrid influence operation involving so-called “pacifist” movements across Europe.

One of the key actors in this kremlin-aligned campaign — which is expected to include anti-Ukrainian street protests and coordinated information activities — is the organization Friedensbewegung (“Peace Movement”).

The narratives promoted during this campaign in moscow’s interests aim to whitewash the kremlin’s criminal policies and to undermine Western support for the Ukrainian people in their resistance to russian aggression. These narratives include claims such as: “support for Ukraine provokes World War III,” “the EU and NATO are aggressors,” and “russia poses no threat to Europe.”

Friedensbewegung presents itself as a “decentralized network of anti-war, pacifist, and anti-militarist initiatives, groups, and coalitions.” The movement was initially formed in the 1950s–1980s to oppose NATO policies and the deployment of nuclear weapons, particularly in West Germany.

Notably, the most active members of Friedensbewegung today are individuals linked to russian intelligence services.

Among them is elena kolbasnikova (born 20 March 1975), who organized a series of anti-Ukrainian rallies in Cologne and Düsseldorf, openly supports the putin regime, and obtained russian citizenship in 2023.

Another figure operating in the kremlin’s interests is kolbasnikova’s associate, max schlund (rostyslav tesliuk) (born 23 April 1985). Closely connected to so-called russian “Cossack” groups, schlund assisted in organizing pro-kremlin rallies in Germany.

In 2024, following searches conducted by the German Prosecutor’s Office at the residences of schlund and kolbasnikova on suspicion of illegal weapons possession, both individuals fled to the russian federation.

Another participant in the campaign, who plays a key role in spreading the kremlin’s agenda within Friedensbewegung networks, is vyacheslav zeyswald. This so-called “pro-russian activist” systematically promotes moscow’s narratives in Germany and glorifies the criminal policies of russian dictator Vladimir putin via his Telegram channel. Zeyswald maintains contacts with russian intelligence services and far-right organizations in Europe.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine emphasizes that these individuals — along with other leading figures within Friedensbewegung — employ various methods to disseminate kremlin narratives, often disguising them as so-called “peace initiatives.”

In reality, the core objective of their activities in Germany and across Europe is to rehabilitate russia’s image despite its numerous war crimes in Ukraine, and to promote capitulationist narratives calling for the fulfillment of all of moscow’s demands under the pretext of achieving “peace at any cost.”