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President Zelensky’s former TV host Diana Panchenko has been added to the European Union’s sanctions list for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda and promoting Russian narratives across social media platforms.
The EU announced on Monday that Panchenko was among 12 individuals and two legal entities newly sanctioned under its expanded regime targeting activities deemed destabilizing to the European Union and its partners.
According to EU documentation, Panchenko, described as “a Ukrainian-born journalist and propagandist,” has been actively producing and disseminating content that advances pro-Russian positions while undermining Ukraine and NATO. The sanctions justification specifically notes that she “deliberately mimics news-broadcast formats in order to legitimize the Kremlin’s narratives” and “manipulates information to portray Ukrainian authorities as ‘Nazis’ and accuses them of betraying their own people, while justifying Russia’s military aggression and crimes.”
Panchenko maintains a significant online presence, with approximately 402,000 subscribers on her Telegram channel and 148,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). On the latter platform, EU officials note she has been working to expand her English-speaking audience through clickbait content while promoting pro-Russian accounts.
This EU action follows Ukraine’s own measures against Panchenko in 2023, when Ukrainian authorities formally charged her with high treason and placed her under national sanctions.
Before aligning herself with pro-Russian interests, Panchenko worked on television channels connected to Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian oligarch and politician known for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Medvedchuk himself has faced sanctions and legal troubles in Ukraine, with his media empire being shut down in 2021 after being designated as a vehicle for Russian propaganda.
The broader EU sanctions list announced Monday includes several prominent figures beyond Panchenko. Among those targeted are American national John Mark Dougan, a former Florida deputy sheriff who relocated to Russia; Swiss ex-colonel Jacques Baud; French businessman Xavier Moreau; and several influential Russian foreign policy figures including Andrei Sushentsov, Fedor Lukyanov, Dmitry Suslov, and Ivan Timofeev.
These sanctions represent part of the EU’s evolving strategy to counter Russian disinformation and hybrid warfare operations. The sanctions regime was initially adopted in October 2024 specifically to address Russia’s destabilizing activities targeting the EU. It has since been expanded to include asset freezes, funding restrictions, and the blocking of Russian media outlets involved in disinformation campaigns.
Media experts note that the targeting of individual influencers like Panchenko signals the EU’s growing concern about the role of social media figures in propagating state-backed disinformation. This approach reflects the changing landscape of propaganda, which increasingly relies on seemingly independent commentators rather than traditional state media outlets.
The sanctions against Panchenko and others will remain in effect for 12 months, with the current measures set to expire on October 9, 2026, unless renewed or modified by EU authorities.
Ukrainian officials have welcomed the EU’s decision, viewing it as an important step in countering what they describe as Russia’s information warfare campaign that has accompanied its military invasion of Ukraine.
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10 Comments
This Panchenko character seems to be a real piece of work – manipulating information to justify Russia’s aggression? That’s a new low, even for Kremlin propagandists. Good on the EU for taking action.
Absolutely. Sanctions are an important tool to disrupt the spread of disinformation and hold bad actors accountable. Let’s hope this serves as a deterrent for others.
It’s alarming to see the scale of Panchenko’s online reach and the volume of anti-Ukraine propaganda she’s pushing. The EU is right to target her as part of their broader efforts to combat Russian influence.
It’s concerning to see how Russian propagandists like Panchenko are spreading disinformation and undermining Ukraine. The EU is right to impose sanctions and hold them accountable for their destabilizing activities.
I agree, it’s crucial to counter these propaganda efforts and protect the truth. Sanctions send a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
As a journalist, I’m deeply concerned by Panchenko’s tactics of masquerading as a news source to legitimize Russian propaganda. The EU is right to crack down on such blatant disinformation efforts.
Panchenko’s large social media following makes her a particularly dangerous propagandist. The EU sanctions are a necessary and timely response to counter her efforts to sow discord and justify Russia’s actions.
Absolutely. Cutting off her access to European platforms is a critical move to limit the spread of her disinformation. Holding these actors accountable is crucial for protecting the truth.
This is a welcome move by the EU. Panchenko and others like her need to be held responsible for their role in undermining Ukraine and spreading Kremlin narratives. Sanctions can help disrupt their operations.
Agreed. Cutting off her access to European platforms and financial systems is an important step. Hopefully, this will limit her ability to continue her destabilizing activities.