Kremlin’s information saboteurs in the West: Mikhail Akinchenko
Mikhail Akinchenko is a Russian propagandist and a correspondent for Russia’s Channel One based in Washington, DC.
In 2015, Akinchenko gained notoriety for staging footage during a report on devastating forest fires in Khakassia, Russia. To dramatize his story, he set fire to grass intentionally, sparking a national scandal.
Currently reporting from Washington, Akinchenko continues to engage in manipulation and distortion. His coverage aligns with Kremlin narratives. In particular, he criticizes the US policy of assistance to Ukraine and promotes the narrative of the “West’s war against Russia” in Ukraine. In one of his stories, Akinchenko accused Ukraine of involvement in the Crocus terrorist attack and the United States of trying to “protect” Kyiv. However, even according to the official version of Russian investigators, there is no evidence of Ukraine’s involvement in this crime.
When covering the U.S. presidential campaign, Akinchenko sought to discredit the concept of democratic elections entirely. This approach aligns with the goals of Russian propaganda—to convince its domestic audience that elections are unnecessary and make them appreciate Putin’s “stability”.
