Final answer:
Russia employed the creation of websites that published false news stories as a strategy to influence the 2016 US elections. The impact on the election outcome is hard to ascertain due to various factors influencing voter decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The strategy used by Russia to influence the 2016 US elections involved the creation of websites that were used to publish false news stories. This form of media disinformation is part of the indirect methods used to influence public opinion and interfere with election processes. Such tactics can shape the perceptions of potential voters and can work alongside other strategies like social media engagement. The direct impact of these strategies on election outcomes is challenging to measure due to the multiplicity of factors affecting voter decision-making. Nonetheless, the investigations that followed, such as the one led by Robert S. Mueller III, affirmed the occurrence of Russian interference, leading to a number of indictments and convictions of individuals involved with the Trump campaign.