Faces of russian propaganda in the TOT: oleg kryuchkov
The CCD continues its series on the primary executors of russian propaganda in the occupied territories of Ukraine. A key propagandist driving the information agenda in occupied Crimea is oleg kryuchkov.
▫️ Born in Simferopol, kryuchkov worked as a correspondent for a Ukrainian TV channel before the occupation but was dismissed after he refused to label the russian military as occupiers. Since 2014, he has been actively aiding the occupation authorities by providing informational support to the aggressor state.
▫️ In 2018, kryuchkov was appointed as an adviser on information policy to the “head of the Republic of Crimea” and became the general producer of Krym TV, a media company established by russia to disseminate kremlin propaganda across the occupied peninsula. The company comprises more than a dozen propaganda outlets, including TV channels, radio stations, and websites.
▫️ Following russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, kryuchkov frequently uses his social media to spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda and relay official statements from the occupation authorities in Crimea.
In June 2024, the SBU charged kryuchkov with collaboration, war propaganda, and denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. He has also been sanctioned by Ukraine.
