RBC, a Russian newspaper, has "published a major investigation into the work of a so-called Russian 'troll factory' since 2015, including during the period of the US election campaign."
According to The Guardian's summary of that investigation,
Perhaps the most alarming element of the article was the claim that employees of the troll factory had contacted about 100 real US-based activists to help with the organisation of protests and events. RBC claimed the activists were contacted by Facebook group administrators hiding their Russian origin and were offered financial help to pay for transport or printing costs. About $80,000 was spent during a two-year period, according to the report.
Meduza, another Russian media outlet, explains it this way:
A source also told RBC that the Internet Research Agency spent almost $80,000 over two years, hiring roughly 100 local American activists to stage about 40 rallies in different cities across the United States. The activists were hired over the Internet, communicating in English, without their knowledge that they were accepting money or organizing support from a Russian organization. According to RBC, internal records from the IRA verify its role in these activities.
Russian troll factory paid US activists to help fund protests during election (The Guardian)