It has now been officially revealed that the Russian military intelligence agency GRU was behind the 2017 Silkway Airlines arms transport allegations, which shook the global public at the time. A comprehensive investigation by The Insider documents that the scandal was in fact an intelligence operation involving forged documents, fabricated social media accounts, and manipulative media support.
Fake Documents, Real Perception
According to the investigation, claims published in 2017 by Bulgarian journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva—accusing Azerbaijan of transporting arms to radical groups in Syria via diplomatic flights—were orchestrated by Unit 29155 of the GRU.
Documents used in the campaign, such as:
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Diplomatic notes
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Flight records
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Weapons lists
…were found to be either completely fabricated or manipulated. These documents were delivered to the journalist via a fake social media account controlled by the GRU.
Undermining NATO, Diverting Attention
The operation’s aim was not only to damage Azerbaijan’s international reputation but also to:
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Undermine NATO’s regional credibility
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Divert attention from Russia’s own activities in Syria
The Silkway files were later published by WikiLeaks, endorsed by Julian Assange, and circulated globally through Kremlin-aligned media outlets.
Documented Links Between Gaytandzhieva and GRU
According to The Insider, communication between Gaytandzhieva and the GRU dates back to 2016. The investigation also reveals that she later:
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Took roles in pro-Kremlin media platforms
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Promoted conspiracy theories about biological labs in Ukraine
In 2023, Ukraine’s Security Service listed Gaytandzhieva as an active GRU collaborator. Her name appeared in the Mirotvorets database, among individuals identified as working for the Kremlin.
A Case Study in Modern Disinformation
Experts describe the operation as a striking example of modern hybrid warfare and information manipulation. Rather than relying on traditional methods, the GRU used psychological operations and perception engineering to inflict damage on its targets.
