The Center for Countering Disinformation (hereinafter – the Center), as a result of monitoring the information space, identified a number of publications aimed at promoting a russian initiative to create a network of international journalists loyal to the aggressor state.

On October 5, 2023, a post appeared on the Telegram channel of the media outlet «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti) describing a project entitled «Foreign Journalists for russia».

It should be emphasised that «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti) presents itself as a major federal media outlet specialising in polemical content, analysis, and current news. However, an assessment of its publications indicates that the outlet functions as a typical russian propaganda resource.

In addition, according to information from open sources, «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti) is owned by the sanctioned russian propagandist zakhar prilepin (real name – yevgeny nikolayevich prilepin).

As part of the «Foreign Journalists for russia» project, an information resource entitled «Support Center for Foreign Journalists and Bloggers» was created (mentioned in a publication by the Telegram channel «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti) dated October 5, 2023).

According to information from the Whois DomainTools resource, this website was created on September 12, 2023, i.e. less than one month prior to the announcement of the project on the Telegram channel «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti) on October 5, 2023. In particular, in addition to a general description, the website contains a list of services available to foreign journalists, as well as a feedback submission form.

It should also be noted that another website with the same name and identical content exists online. However, this website was registered later – on September 30, 2023.

This website is not referenced in publications by «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti), however the content published on it indicates its affiliation with the aforementioned resource.

The practical implementation of the project began as early as the month following the publication announcing its launch. In this way, foreign journalists were subsequently involved in propaganda events in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, as evidenced by a publication dated November 18, 2023 on the Telegram channel «Телеканал Z Юнион днр».

Later, a similar publication appeared on the Telegram channel of the russian proxy and leader of the terrorist organisation «dpr», denis pushilin.

On December 1, 2023, a publication appeared on the Telegram channel «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti) summarising all news related to the first press tour conducted as a part of the «Foreign Journalists for russia» project.

It should be separately underscored that events conducted during this visit were repeatedly used by russian propaganda to convey russia’s position regarding the war against Ukraine.

As of December 19, 2025, it is known that as a part of the «Foreign Journalists for russia» project, 10 press tours for foreign journalists have taken place. During these tours, more than 50 foreign nationals from over 40 countries visited the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the United States, European Union member states, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The most recent recorded visit  as a part of  this project concluded on December 17, 2025, as reported in a publication by «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti). Foreign journalists and bloggers visited, among other locations, Donetsk, Horlivka, Avdiivka, and Mariupol, where they met with representatives of the occupation administrations, including the leader of the terrorist organisation «dpr», denis pushilin.

Thus, the «Foreign Journalists for russia» project is used as an instrument for the targeted dissemination of narratives aligned with russian propaganda among international audiences. Publications by participants of these trips in media outlets and on social media retransmit key kremlin talking points, including «Ukraine shelled Donbas for eight years», «russia is saving the people of Donbas», «a coup took place in Ukraine in 2014», «russia’s claims to the rest of eastern Ukraine, including Odesa, are legitimate», and others.

Examples of materials published by journalists and bloggers who participated in press tours as part of the «Foreign Journalists for russia» project

Conclusion

The media outlet «Ваши Новости» (Vashi Novosti) and its project «Foreign Journalists for russia» are likely an attempt to create and use a network of international journalists loyal to the aggressor state. The project is implemented with the involvement of the ministry of foreign affairs of the russian federation, «rossotrudnichestvo», and deputies of the state duma of the russian federation, while its participants are engaged in direct communication with leaders of terrorist organisations, including denis pushilin.

Accordingly, the «Foreign Journalists for russia» project is an instrument of russia’s hybrid warfare aimed at discrediting Ukraine and creating a false illusion of international support for the aggressor’s actions.