By EUvsDisinfo
The European Union has adopted a new round of sanctions aimed at countering Russia’s ongoing hybrid threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and malicious cyber activity targeting the EU, its member states and partner countries. The latest decision lists twelve individuals and two entities involved in coordinated disinformation campaigns, propaganda networks and cyber operations linked to Russian state interests.
The listings form part of a broader EU effort to address information warfare as a core element of modern conflict, alongside military, cyber and economic tools. Among those sanctioned in this package is Diana Panchenko, a Ukrainian-born journalist identified by the EU as a pro-Kremlin propagandist.
Framing propaganda as journalism
Panchenko produces and spreads anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian and anti-NATO narratives that closely mirror official Kremlin messaging. She frames her work as “exposing corruption”, with her primary targets being the Ukrainian leadership and, in particular, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Her content consistently portrays Ukrainian authorities as “Nazis”, accusing them of betraying their own population.
A key feature of her work is the deliberate imitation of professional news broadcasts. By copying the visual style and tone of television journalism, Panchenko presents political propaganda as credible reporting — a common tactic in modern influence operations designed to mislead audiences and legitimise false narratives.
Before launching her current media activities, Panchenko worked for NewsOne, a television channel that was part of the Novony media group, which was unofficially controlled by Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk. Medvedchuk is a close ally of Vladimir Putin and has played a central role in building pro-Kremlin media operations, including more recent efforts to establish similar outlets abroad, such as in Serbia.
Content from occupied territories and online amplification
Panchenko has also produced content in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including Mariupol and Donetsk. Ukrainian authorities have described this material as propaganda that helps justify Russian war crimes. Her role in information warfare was further highlighted when her content was broadcast on Ukrainian television during a Russian cyber attack that disrupted normal programming.
In addition to video production, Panchenko maintains a large online presence. She runs a Telegram channel with more than 400,000 subscribers and an X (formerly Twitter) account with around 148,000 followers. On X, she increasingly targets English-speaking audiences using clickbait content, coordinated amplification and the promotion of pro-Russian accounts — tactics commonly associated with influence operations rather than independent journalism.
Part of a broader EU response to FIMI
The EU concluded that Panchenko is responsible for supporting actions attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation that undermine Ukraine’s security and stability through information manipulation and interference. Her designation forms part of a broader sanctions package targeting FIMI-related actors, including individuals and structures involved in coordinated disinformation campaigns, propaganda production and hybrid operations aligned with Russian state interests.
Following the sanctions decision, Panchenko publicly criticised the EU on social media, portraying herself as a victim of censorship and appealing for support from Elon Musk. In her posts, she framed the sanctions as an attack on journalism rather than a response to coordinated disinformation activity.
Press freedom organisations and disinformation researchers have rejected this framing. They stress that the measures do not target journalism or political dissent, but rather state-aligned propaganda and information warfare conducted during an ongoing military conflict.
Panchenko’s case illustrates how modern influence operations increasingly rely on individuals who present themselves as independent journalists while actively amplifying authoritarian narratives. By sanctioning such actors, the EU aims to raise the cost of participation in hostile information campaigns and strengthen resilience against foreign manipulation of the public information space.
By EUvsDisinfo
