EU Imposes New Sanctions on Russian Media Figures for Disinformation Campaigns

The European Council has expanded its sanctions list, adding six more individuals in a bid to counter Russia’s ongoing hybrid warfare activities aimed at the European Union and its allies. The new restrictions specifically target prominent Russian media personalities and cultural figures accused of spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine and promoting pro-Kremlin narratives.

Among those sanctioned are well-known television presenters Dmitry Guberniev, Ekaterina Andreeva, and Maria Sittel, along with propagandist Pavel Zarubin. The Council cited their roles in Russian state media and their participation in propaganda shows including “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin,” where they allegedly disseminate false information about the Ukraine conflict while endorsing the Putin regime.

The sanctions also extend to cultural figures, including actor Roman Chumakov and Ukrainian-born Russian ballet dancer Sergey Polunin. According to the Council, these individuals have used their public platforms to promote pro-Russian propaganda and conspiracy theories regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while amplifying anti-Ukraine and anti-Western narratives.

“All of those designated today actively contribute to Russia’s war against Ukraine, for instance through the raising of money for the Russian armed forces,” the Council stated in its announcement.

These measures reflect growing European concern about Russia’s information warfare tactics, which security experts consider a significant component of Moscow’s hybrid warfare strategy. The Kremlin has consistently denied allegations of orchestrating disinformation campaigns, despite mounting evidence compiled by EU monitoring agencies.

With this latest round of sanctions, the EU’s restrictive measures targeting Russia’s destabilizing activities now cover a total of 65 individuals and 17 entities. The penalties include asset freezes, prohibiting EU citizens and companies from making funds or economic resources available to those listed. Natural persons on the list also face travel bans, preventing them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

The sanctions come amid increasing tension between Russia and Western nations over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, now in its third year. European officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about Moscow’s use of information operations as a tool to undermine support for Ukraine and to create divisions within European societies.

Media analysts note that Russian state television continues to play a crucial role in the Kremlin’s information strategy, both domestically and internationally. The sanctioned presenters have substantial viewership in Russia and among Russian-speaking populations in neighboring countries, including EU member states with significant Russian-speaking minorities.

The EU’s focus on cultural figures like Polunin signals an expanding definition of those considered part of Russia’s propaganda apparatus. Polunin, once considered a ballet prodigy in the West and former principal dancer at London’s Royal Ballet, has increasingly embraced nationalist Russian positions in recent years, including publicly displaying a tattoo of Vladimir Putin.

These sanctions align with broader Western efforts to counter Russian information operations. Last month, the United States Treasury Department imposed similar restrictions on Russian media executives, while tech companies have faced pressure to limit the reach of Russian state media on their platforms.

European Commission officials have emphasized that these measures target individuals actively participating in information manipulation rather than limiting freedom of expression. However, Russian authorities have denounced the sanctions as censorship and threatened retaliatory measures against European journalists working in Russia.

The Council’s decision underscores the EU’s determination to respond to what it perceives as Russia’s multifaceted campaign of destabilization directed against European democracies and their partners.