The U.S. Department of State has accused Russian media outlet RT of being actively involved in covert influence operations around the world, with the support of a cyber unit connected to Russian intelligence services. In a statement on Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that Russia embedded this “cyber operational unit” within RT during the spring of 2023, with the full knowledge and cooperation of RT’s leadership.
Blinken further revealed that RT is also involved in secretly assisting with military procurement for Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Information gathered by this cyber unit flows directly to Russian intelligence, media outlets, mercenary groups, and other Russian state affiliates, according to Blinken.
This cyber-intelligence unit, as described by James P. Rubin, special envoy and coordinator for the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, uses cyber tools to collect sensitive data, which is then used for various operations, potentially including strategic information leaks. Rubin did not confirm whether the unit remains active.
One of the unit’s ongoing operations is a large-scale online crowdfunding initiative within Russia, operating through RT and social media channels, to support Russian military efforts in Ukraine. Blinken detailed how this effort is providing essential military gear such as body armor, night-vision equipment, and drones to Russian forces. While the crowdfunding program is publicly visible, RT’s role in it has been kept hidden.
This revelation follows the indictment of two RT employees last week, charged with running a $10 million covert operation to spread pro-Russian narratives in the United States. Friday’s announcement, however, focused on RT’s global activities. Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien explained that this disclosure is intended to alert other nations to the broader scope of Russia’s influence operations.
One of RT’s global projects includes African Stream, a platform that presents itself as an independent African media voice but is, according to the State Department, a vehicle for Russian propaganda. Another example is the English-language site Red in Germany, further demonstrating how RT is operating beyond U.S. borders.
According to Blinken, the overarching goal of RT’s activities is to manipulate democratic elections worldwide. He cited Moldova’s upcoming presidential election as an example, where Moscow has been accused of meddling. In response, the U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions against Russian media operations, underscoring Russia’s plans to incite unrest if the election doesn’t yield a favorable result for Moscow.
In a coordinated diplomatic effort, the U.S., U.K., and Canada launched a joint campaign on Friday to rally international allies to confront the threat posed by RT and other Russian disinformation networks. “We’re saying to the world, unless you follow Russia’s lead, they will use all these tools to try to disrupt your society,” Rubin warned.
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