US offers new detail on Russian media role in Kremlin campaigns

The U.S. imposed sanctions Friday targeting Russia’s state-controlled media outlet RT over its role in Russia’s covert influence operations globally, offering fresh details about the extent of its involvement after a Justice Department indictment earlier this month.

Among the new allegations detailed Friday was that RT helped oversee a crowdfunding effort, covertly organized by Russia, to collect weapons and other material support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, including sniper rifles, body armor and radio equipment.

Some of that equipment, including reconnaissance drones, was purchased from China — a sensitive allegation given that U.S. officials have pressured Beijing not to support Russia’s invasion. The U.S. has said China would cross a “red line” if it offered Russian forces lethal aid.

“We have no indication that China knew that this was being directed by the Russian government, or that the end users were Russian soldiers, so that line we haven’t crossed,” Jim O’Brien, the State Department’s top diplomat for Europe, said at a briefing after the sanctions were announced.

The department’s efforts to counter Russian disinformation efforts around the world dovetail with the Justice Department’s action last week against Russian propaganda efforts that are aimed at reducing international support for Ukraine and influencing next month’s U.S. election.

RT didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. On its website, RT mocked a CNN report saying the U.S. was about to accuse it of espionage. “We’ve been broadcasting straight out of the KGB headquarters all this time,” it joked. “No, but seriously, we’re running out of popcorn to sit and watch what the U.S. government will come up with next about us.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that RT worked directly with the Kremlin to influence a 2024 election in Moldova, including by fomenting unrest. Friday’s action served as a warning to other countries to recognize the gravity of the threat, according to Blinken, who said the U.S., U.K. and Canada will work jointly to counter RT.

He said the U.S. wouldn’t stand by as RT engages in operations “in support of Russia’s nefarious activities,” including by embedding a unit with cyber capabilities within the media company.

“I’ve instructed U.S. diplomats around the world to share the evidence that we’ve gathered on RT’s expanded capabilities,” Blinken said on Friday. “We’ll continue to respond forcefully to Moscow’s playbook of aggression and subversion.”

Earlier this month, the Justice Department charged two employees of RT with conspiracy to commit money laundering and being unregistered foreign agents for funneling almost $10 million to online commentators who shared pro-Russia “propaganda and disinformation.”

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