Washington — The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions against Russian state media on Friday, accusing a Kremlin Media to work hand in hand with the Russian military and conduct fundraising campaigns to pay for sniper rifles, bulletproof vests and other equipment for soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
While RT has already been sanctioned for its Kremlin propaganda and disinformation activities, the charges announced Friday suggest that its role goes far beyond influence operations. On the contrary, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, RT is a key part of Russia’s war machine and its efforts to undermine its democratic allies.
“RT wants its new covert intelligence capabilities, like its longstanding disinformation and propaganda efforts, to remain hidden,” Blinken said. “Our most powerful antidote to Russia’s lies is the truth. It shines a light on what the Kremlin is trying to do under the cover of darkness.”
RT has also created websites posing as legitimate news sites Authorities said the outlet was dedicated to spreading disinformation and propaganda in Europe, Africa, South America and elsewhere. They said the outlet also expanded its use of cyber operations with a new unit linked to Russian intelligence services created last year.
The crowdfunding effort was aimed at raising money for the purchase of Russian military equipment, some of which was purchased in China, officials said. There is no obvious connection between RT and the fundraising campaign, nor any indication that Chinese officials knew their products were being sold to Russia.
RT’s actions show that “it is not just a disinformation firehouse, but an integral part of the intelligence apparatus and the functioning of the Russian government,” said Jamie Rubin, who directs the State Department’s Global Engagement Center.
The sanctions announced Friday target Russian television channel RT TV-Novosti, as well as a related state media group, Rossiya Segodnya, and its CEO, Dmitry Kiselyov. A third channel and its head, Nelli Parutenko, were also sanctioned for organizing a vote-buying scheme in Moldova intended to help Moscow’s preferred candidates in upcoming elections.
