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Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU) has orchestrated a campaign in Germany aimed at undermining support for Ukraine, with one of its key elements being the “Alley of Angels” photo exhibition, Reuters reported on Feb. 18. The exhibition showcases monochrome images of children from Russian-occupied territories purportedly killed during the war in Ukraine, displayed on banners in city squares across Germany. The exhibition is part of a larger campaign — “Children of War” — aimed at urging European leaders to put an end to the conflict. According to sources in European intelligence cited by the outlet, the project is overseen by GRU officer Vitaly Konovalov.
Publicly, the organizers claim to be independent of any state and insist that their efforts are purely humanitarian. However, the report indicates that the project is supported by entities linked to the Russian authorities — including media outlets affiliated with the GRU.
The Alley of Angels exhibition was first displayed in Cologne in June 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. The event was organized by Soviet-born residents of Germany, including teacher Oksana Walter. Her project received backing from the Russian media group ANNA-News, which is headed by retired GRU colonel Anatoly Matviychuk.
Documents from European intelligence agencies reviewed by Reuters suggest that the exhibition’s organizers regularly reported their activities to Moscow, including by sending back photographs from protest events in Germany. One such report contained receipts for the production of banners issued in Walter’s name.
The Russian disinformation campaign has gained support from members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Members of AfD have repeatedly attended events organized with GRU involvement and have amplified narratives aligned with Russian propaganda. Intelligence reports indicate that pro-Russian actions in Germany are coordinated through networks linked both to Russian authorities and to local far-right organizations.
According to Reuters’ investigation, the “Children of War” campaign in Germany — which includes the Alley of Angels exhibition — is designed to erode support for Ukraine. The campaign’s goal is to infiltrate EU protest movements and weaken governments that supply arms to Kyiv.
German authorities have recorded a surge in Russian disinformation activity ahead of Bundestag elections scheduled for Feb. 23. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has confirmed that Russia is attempting to influence the vote in its favor. In response, the agency has established a task force to prevent any foreign state from interfering in the upcoming vote.
The “Alley of Angels” is a memorial complex dedicated to the memory of children who lost their lives during the war in Donbas. It is located in the park of culture and recreation in Russian-occupied Donetsk.
The deaths of these children are used by Russian propaganda to promote the narrative that Russia is reclaiming lost territories, presenting its actions as a liberation from “Nazis” allegedly committing genocide against ethnic Russians.