On July 28, 2023, the Council of the European union announced new sanctions against seven individuals and five entities involved in a coordinated campaign to manipulate information about Russia’s war in Ukraine. The campaign, called Recent Reliable News or RRN, uses fake web pages and fake social media accounts to propagate false information to support Russia’s stance in the war. According to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the digital information campaign is part of a broader effort by Russia to manipulate information and influence opinions in the European Union.
Among those designated are:
- Inforos, an online site linked to the Russian military intelligence that has established more than 270 proxy outlets to disseminate propaganda;
- ANO Dialog, an organization linked to the administration of president Putin;
- Two Russian IT companies involved in the RRN campaign;
- Seven individuals connected with the designated organizations.
Individuals and entities designated pursuant to EU sanctions are subject to asset freezes, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available, directly or indirectly, to designated persons. In addition, individuals designated under the sanctions regime are subject to a travel ban, preventing them from entering or transiting through EU territories.