Additional Coverage:
### U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Russian State Media for Military Ties and Election Interference
**WASHINGTON D.C. ** – On Friday, the U.S.
State Department introduced new sanctions targeting Russian state media, specifically accusing the Kremlin-backed outlet RT of collaborating with the Russian military. According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, RT has been involved in fundraising for military gear, including sniper rifles and body armor, for troops fighting in Ukraine.
Previously sanctioned for spreading Kremlin propaganda, RT faces new accusations of functioning as a critical component in Russia’s war tactics and efforts to destabilize democratic nations. “RT wants to keep its new covert intelligence capabilities hidden, just as it does with its disinformation efforts,” Blinken said. “Our best counter to Russia’s lies is the truth, exposing their actions to the world.”
Officials disclosed that RT has also launched websites mimicking legitimate news platforms to distribute disinformation across Europe, Africa, South America, and beyond. Furthermore, a new cyber-operations unit tied to Russian intelligence has been created by RT.
The State Department identified a fundraising initiative on Russian social media intended to finance military supplies, including night-vision equipment, drones, radios, and generators. While some of these supplies were sourced from China, there was no evidence of official Chinese knowledge or involvement with RT’s campaign.
“RT is not merely a disinformation outlet; it’s an integral part of Russia’s intelligence and military apparatus,” noted Jamie Rubin, who leads the State Department’s Global Engagement Center.
Russian officials denied these accusations. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, called the claims “nonsense,” maintaining that RT is merely an effective media entity.
The sanctions extend to RT’s parent body TV-Novosti, another state media group, Rossiya Segodnya, and its director Dmitry Kiselyov. Another organization and its leader, Nelli Parutenko, were sanctioned for allegedly orchestrating a vote-buying scheme in Moldova to favor Moscow-friendly candidates.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, dismissed the new sanctions as redundant, suggesting on her Telegram channel that the U.S. might need specialists to track the numerous sanctions already in place against Russia.
As the U.S. general election approaches, Russia’s global propaganda efforts are under increasing scrutiny. Last week, the Biden administration seized Kremlin-linked websites and charged two RT employees with covertly funding a Tennessee company nearly $10 million for its content, which was then distributed by far-right influencers unaware of Russian support.
This summer, U.S. intelligence agencies warned that Russia was covertly enlisting Americans to propagate its misinformation on popular U.S. platforms, sowing division among Americans to weaken support for Ukraine. Additionally, Russia’s efforts appear aimed at bolstering former President Donald Trump, who has been critical of Ukraine and NATO while expressing admiration for Russian President Putin.