{"id":44363,"date":"2025-12-22T13:05:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T11:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/?p=44363"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:12:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T10:12:47","slug":"analytical-report-project-foreign-journalists-for-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/report\/analytical-report-project-foreign-journalists-for-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"Analytical Report \u00abProject \u201cForeign Journalists for russia\u201d\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Center for Countering Disinformation (hereinafter \u2013 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.<\/p>\n<p>On October 5, 2023, a post appeared on the Telegram channel of the media outlet \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (Vashi Novosti) describing a project entitled \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44366 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"656\" height=\"590\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It should be emphasised that \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (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.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44369 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"663\" height=\"436\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In addition, according to information from open sources, \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (Vashi Novosti) is owned by the sanctioned russian propagandist zakhar prilepin (real name &#8211; yevgeny nikolayevich prilepin).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-44371 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"436\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As part of the \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb project, an information resource entitled \u00abSupport Center for Foreign Journalists and Bloggers\u00bb was created (mentioned in a publication by the Telegram channel \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (Vashi Novosti) dated October 5, 2023).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-44373 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"368\" \/><\/p>\n<p>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 \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (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.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44375 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"644\" height=\"636\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It should also be noted that another website with the same name and identical content exists online. However, this website was registered later \u2013 on September 30, 2023.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-44377 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This website is not referenced in publications by \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (Vashi Novosti), however the content published on it indicates its affiliation with the aforementioned resource.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-44381 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"610\" height=\"480\" \/><\/p>\n<p>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 \u00ab\u0422\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0430\u043b Z \u042e\u043d\u0438\u043e\u043d \u0434\u043d\u0440\u00bb.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44383 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"486\" height=\"501\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Later, a similar publication appeared on the Telegram channel of the russian proxy and leader of the terrorist organisation \u00abdpr\u00bb, denis pushilin.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44385 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"591\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On December 1, 2023, a publication appeared on the Telegram channel \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (Vashi Novosti) summarising all news related to the first press tour conducted as a part of the \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb project.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44387 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5-1-419x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"260\" height=\"635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5-1-419x1024.jpg 419w, https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5-1.jpg 463w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It should be separately underscored that events conducted during this visit were repeatedly used by russian propaganda to convey russia\u2019s position regarding the war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44391 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"458\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As of December 19, 2025, it is known that as a part of the \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb 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.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44393 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"811\" height=\"456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 811px) 100vw, 811px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The most recent recorded visit\u00a0 as a part of\u00a0 this project concluded on December 17, 2025, as reported in a publication by \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (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 \u00abdpr\u00bb, denis pushilin.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-44395 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"577\" height=\"481\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Thus, the \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb 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 \u00abUkraine shelled Donbas for eight years\u00bb, \u00abrussia is saving the people of Donbas\u00bb, \u00aba coup took place in Ukraine in 2014\u00bb, \u00abrussia\u2019s claims to the rest of eastern Ukraine, including Odesa, are legitimate\u00bb, and others.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Examples of materials published by journalists and bloggers who participated in press tours as part of the \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb project<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44400 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-2-718x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"485\" height=\"692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-2-718x1024.jpg 718w, https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-2.jpg 722w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-44407 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"472\" height=\"575\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The media outlet \u00ab\u0412\u0430\u0448\u0438 \u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb (Vashi Novosti) and its project \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb 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, \u00abrossotrudnichestvo\u00bb, 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.<\/p>\n<p>Accordingly, the \u00abForeign Journalists for russia\u00bb project is an instrument of russia\u2019s hybrid warfare aimed at discrediting Ukraine and creating a false illusion of international support for the aggressor\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Center for Countering Disinformation (hereinafter \u2013 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&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":44364,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","wds_primary_category":95,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-report"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44363"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44363\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpd.gov.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}