Russian propaganda abroad directly linked to Kremlin intelligence – CCD

The exposure of a Russian influence operation in Norway proves that Russian propaganda abroad is inseparably linked to Russian intelligence services.

This was reported on the website of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Ukrinform saw.

“This situation once again proves that Russian propaganda abroad is inseparably connected with the intelligence services. Russia looks for vulnerable platforms to expand its influence, and the Kremlin’s operations are not limited to the media space,” the CCD stated.

The institution, citing data from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), reported that sanctioned propagandist Artem Kureyev, using a fake identity, infiltrated preparations for the Arctic 2050 event at Nord University. “This event coincided with the period when Russia was to assume chairmanship of the Arctic Council. At that time, the Kremlin was especially interested in portraying Russia as a constructive partner in the Arctic and minimizing attention to military activity in the region,” the CCD noted.

According to the statement, the findings of the investigation show that the Kremlin deliberately uses academic platforms where participant vetting is minimal and trust levels are high.

“Such operations allow Russia to influence politicians, researchers, and the media, using legal formats as instruments of information warfare,” the report says.

The agency also recalled, citing journalists, that Kureyev had worked for Russian intelligence for more than ten years: organizing trips for foreign journalists to temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, building pro-Russian networks in Europe, and creating “expert” platforms to promote Kremlin narratives.

The CCD stated that Kureyev and his propaganda project African Initiative had previously been sanctioned.

As reported by Ukrinform, at the beginning of December the Kremlin likely intensified a disinformation campaign around negotiations on a diplomatic settlement of Russia’s war against Ukraine, focusing its efforts on discrediting the negotiation process between Ukraine and the United States.

Photo: Freepik / DC Studio