Meta researchers said the operation relied on thousands of accounts to spread pro-Chinese messages and attack critics of Beijing.

The group is once more pushing narratives around NATO, according to Recorded Future.

Members of the same operation posed as members of the Anonymous hacking collective.

A new report from FireEye does not attribute the effort to the Russian government, though the motives are consistent.

The statement from the Secretary of State did not name the Russian government specifically.

Whether Operation Secondary Infektion had a strong influence remains unclear.

The tactic is consistent with prior Russian efforts, experts say.

New research follows similar findings first made public last year.