The CCD continues its series on the primary executors of russian propaganda in Ukraine’s occupied territories. A major player in organizing this propaganda machine is alexander malkevich, a media manager from st. petersburg.

▫️ malkevich’s journalism career took off in 2018 when he joined one of the projects of the PMC wagner head yevgeny prigozhin, leading to U.S. sanctions against him for his involvement with prigozhin.

▫️ In summer 2022, malkevich assumed control of propaganda operations in Ukraine’s occupied territories, calling his work “volunteering”. He quickly built an extensive media network to promote kremlin narratives among local residents.

▫️ In Melitopol, he established the “ZaMedia group”, which includes a TV channel, a radio station, and several local news outlets; in Kherson, he set up the Tavria TV channel; and in Mariupol, he launched the Mariupol 24 TV channel. Loyal kremlin propagandists from russia manage these media outlets.

In Ukraine, malkevich is under sanctions and is part of a criminal investigation by the SBU.