EU sanctions Xenia Fedorova for brainwashing France with Russian propaganda

On September 24, the European Union sanctioned Xenia Fedorova, the former head of the Kremlin media outlet RT France, for her role in spreading pro-Russian narratives and supporting Moscow's hybrid war on Europe. Fedorova operated RT France from 2017 until EU sanctions forced its shutdown. She has since continued to promote Russian-aligned narratives through French media outlets, including CNews, Europe 1, and Le JDNews.

The EU's decision reflects their commitment to combating hostile moves against their democracy, as stated by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on social media.

Fedorova's propaganda efforts included portraying European support for Ukraine as prolonging the conflict, presenting Russia as seeking peace with a confrontational Europe, questioning Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children, and casting doubt on European and NATO policies as threats to European security. French authorities also argued that her actions undermined the fundamental interests of the state and posed a serious threat to public order, leading to her deportation from France in July.

The sanctions imposed on Fedorova mean that her European assets will be frozen, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing her with funds or economic resources. The European Union has been increasingly concerned about Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) by propagandists like Fedorova, particularly in light of Russia's intensified hybrid war on Europe.

In response, the bloc has collaborated with Ukraine to assess Russia's attempts to distort the information landscape, established a Hybrid Rapid Response Team to assist third countries in countering FIMI, and is developing a Center for Democratic Resilience to protect EU democracy. Given the upcoming elections in several EU countries, including France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Greece, in early 2027, the issue of FIMI remains a top priority for EU policymakers.