The European Union expanded its list of individuals subject to sanctions on March 16 due to the spread of disinformation and information manipulation in favor of Russia. The latest package of restrictive measures concerns four individuals whom the EU considers active participants in hybrid warfare and interference in the internal affairs of the union.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Who is Subject to EU Sanctions
The sanctions list includes two Russian citizens: Ernest Matskavichus, a host on the state television channel “Russia-1,” and blogger and radio host Sergey Klyuchenko, known by the pseudonym Sergey Mardan. Additionally, the list includes British citizen Graham Phillips—a supporter of the Russian invasion of Ukraine—and former French serviceman Adrien Boke, who has obtained Russian citizenship.
Details of the Allegations and Previous Sanctions
According to official EU documents, Graham Phillips has been actively engaged in spreading propaganda in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine, particularly through filming in occupied territories, conducting interviews with captured British soldiers, and writing materials that justify the occupation of Ukrainian lands. Adrien Boke, for his part, has repeatedly demonstrated public support for Kremlin narratives in Europe and Russia, giving interviews to Russian media, posting on his X account, and collaborating with Kremlin-controlled media.
“Graham Phillips has played an active role in justifying Russia’s war against Ukraine through disinformation and propaganda, regularly filming materials in territories occupied by Russia, including interviews with captured British fighters, and writing propaganda articles about the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Adrien Boke has repeatedly positioned himself as an amplifier of Kremlin propaganda in Europe and Russia through appearances at symbolic conflict sites, interviews with Russian television, posts on his X account, and collaboration with Kremlin-funded publications,” the official EU journal states.
The EU systematically imposes sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in legitimizing Russian aggression and spreading disinformation. In particular, earlier this year, sanctions targeted Russian propagandists Ekaterina Andreyeva, Pavel Zarubin, as well as television presenter Maria Sittel, sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev, ballet dancer Sergey Polunin, and rapper Roma Zhigan (Chumakov), who was born in Kherson.