Who are the latest Russian disinformation actors sanctioned by the EU?

The Council of the European Union sanctioned 4 individuals connected 16 March, accusing them of conducting hybrid manipulation and overseas interference activities connected behalf of Russia.

In practice, this means their assets volition beryllium frozen, portion EU citizens and companies volition beryllium forbidden from providing them with funds oregon fiscal assets.

Who are these 4 people, and however person they dispersed disinformation astir Russia’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine?

Adrien Bocquet

Adrien Bocquet, a erstwhile subordinate of the French military, intensified his activities amplifying Kremlin propaganda successful Europe and Russia pursuing Moscow’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine.

France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, told reporters that Bocquet was a “recruiter of overseas fighters successful Ukraine, liable for condoning warfare crimes, and besides liable for disinformation campaigns successful Europe and Africa.”

In 2022, helium was interviewed by aggregate mainstream French media outlets, aft helium claimed to person returned from a humanitarian travel to Bucha, which led him to assertion that helium had witnessed alleged sedate crimes committed by the Ukrainian army.

In reality, Bocquet’s claims echoed propaganda peddled by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and turned retired to beryllium wholly falsified.

Bocquet has since been interviewed by aggregate Russian TV channels and has besides made documentary benignant reports utilizing Kremlin propaganda points.

Graham Phillips

Phillips, a erstwhile clerk for the now-defunct UK Central Office of Information, began his vocation spreading accusation astir Russia and Ukraine by penning a blog titled Brit successful Ukraine. He archetypal travelled to Ukraine successful 2009 for a shot match.

Screenshots from the blog, which has since been deleted, amusement Phillips wrote astir everything from politics, history, shot and enactment tourism successful Ukraine.

Over time, Phillips became notorious among pro-Kremlin bloggers for processing his ain YouTube transmission and reporting from wrong Crimea often successful tandem with Russian state-controlled tv channel, Russia Today, for which helium was employed arsenic a freelancer.

After a little stint successful the UK, helium returned to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine pursuing Moscow's full-scale invastion. In April 2022, helium was accused by British MP Robert Jenrick of warfare crimes aft helium interviewed British citizen, Aiden Aslin, who had been captured by Russia whilst warring successful the Ukrainian military.

Interviewing prisoners of warfare nether duress is amerciable nether the Geneva Conventions. His YouTube channel, which aired the interview, was subsequently demonetised.

In 2022, Phillips became the archetypal British national to beryllium added to the UK government’s sanctions database concerning Russia’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine — a determination which helium denounced. He has additionally been sanctioned by Ukraine since 2022 and banned from entering the country.

His societal media channels suggest that Phillips present resides successful Russian-occupied territories. He is progressive connected X, Telegram, Instagram and Facebook wherever helium posts videos astir his life. His latest video places him successful the Russian-occupied metropolis of Mariupol.

In 2017, a BBC probe revealed Phillips was utilizing crowdfunding sites to concern his videos from wrong the war.

A Telegram station made by Phillips successful May 2025 indicates helium continues to crook to nationalist enactment for his videos. The station asks donors to springiness wealth to a Russian slope account, oregon email him to connection alternate means of support.

Under the caller restrictions enactment successful spot by the EU, Phillips is taxable to an plus frost and EU citizens and businesses are prohibited from making funds disposable to him.

Ernest Mackevičius and Sergey Klyuchenkov

The EU’s measures besides people Sergey Klyuchenkov and Ernest Mackevičius, some TV anchors who person regularly appeared connected Russian state-controlled tv channels.

Klyuchenkov, a big connected pro-Kremlin outlets including Komsomolskaya Pravda and Soloviev LIVE, is described by the EU arsenic a “propagandist” who has supported attacks connected Ukraine, including against civilians and called for further escalation.

The bloc besides accuses him of advocating for the “de-Ukrainisation” of Russian-occupied territories, including banning the Ukrainian connection and removing Ukrainian taste symbols. He has suggested expanding the struggle beyond Ukraine and called for the Russian concern of Baltic States and retaliatory strikes against European countries.

Mackevičius, meanwhile, is the pb anchor of quality programme Vesti astatine 20:00 connected state-owned Rossiya 1. The EU says helium has consistently broadcast misleading and biased sum of the warfare including portraying Russian advances successful a affirmative airy and downplaying the Ukrainian resistance.

In 2014, helium was awarded the “Order of Friendship” by Russian President Vladimir Putin for covering Crimea.