Russian Disinformation Network Exploits Telegram to Evade EU Sanctions

Russia Exploits Telegram Network to Bypass EU Sanctions on State Media

Russian state-backed disinformation efforts have found new pathways into European Union countries through an elaborate network of Telegram channels that republish content from RT (formerly Russia Today), according to a recent report by Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.

The center, which operates under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, has documented how Russian propaganda machinery has adapted to circumvent sanctions imposed by the European Union in 2022, which banned RT broadcasting throughout the bloc.

“The Russian propaganda network uses a network of Telegram channels that duplicate RT content for the European audience in order to circumvent sanctions,” the center stated in their findings published on Facebook.

Since early 2024, investigators have identified a coordinated network of Telegram channels marked with “MT” identifiers. These channels systematically republish material from RT’s official accounts in multiple languages, creating what experts describe as a “mirror” system that gives EU residents access to content from banned Russian state media.

While the direct audience for these MT-marked channels remains relatively small—approximately 15,500 subscribers—their reach extends far beyond these numbers. The center’s analysis reveals that content from these channels is regularly amplified by larger European Telegram channels connected to pro-Kremlin information networks.

“Although the MT network’s audience is small, its content is actively shared by large European Telegram channels linked to the pro-Kremlin ecosystem,” the report notes. “The use of resources that systematically sow distrust toward EU official institutions allows Russia to mask its propaganda as ‘independent sources’.”

This strategy represents a sophisticated approach to information warfare, where banned Russian state narratives are laundered through seemingly unaffiliated channels before reaching European audiences. The process obscures the content’s origins, making it more difficult for users to identify state-sponsored disinformation.

“Russia constantly seeks new mechanisms to circumvent sanctions in order to maintain its informational influence on Europe. The development of Telegram ‘mirror’ networks is an example of the adaptability of Kremlin propaganda and its readiness to use alternative channels to spread disinformation,” the Center for Countering Disinformation warned.

The tactics reflect Russia’s evolving approach to information operations in contested spaces. When direct channels are blocked, alternative distribution methods are quickly established, demonstrating a nimble and persistent strategy to maintain influence in European information environments.

Security experts view these practices as posing significant risks to information integrity across Europe. They highlight how these operations exploit Telegram’s minimal content moderation compared to other major social media platforms, making it an ideal vector for circumventing restrictions.

The center’s report also notes parallel efforts to manipulate information on other popular platforms. Analysts have observed coordinated campaigns to alter materials on Wikipedia, where changes to articles appear designed to reinforce specific narratives aligned with Kremlin positions on international affairs.

These findings come amid heightened concerns about foreign interference in European political processes, particularly as several EU member states prepare for elections in the coming year. The European Commission has previously identified Russian state-backed disinformation as a significant threat to democratic processes within the bloc.

The Ukrainian center’s report concludes with calls for more robust action from both technology platforms and EU regulators to counter these evolving tactics. Experts emphasize that identifying and disrupting these networks requires coordinated efforts that span both technical measures and public awareness campaigns to help citizens recognize disguised propaganda.

As digital platforms continue to evolve, the cat-and-mouse game between government regulators and state-backed information operations appears likely to intensify, particularly in geopolitically contested regions where information warfare has become a constant feature of international relations.