EU sanctions six Russian propagandists, including Putin's "personal journalist"

The Council of the European Union on 29 January added six Russian propagandists to the sanctions list. These individuals are Dmitry Guberniev, Ekaterina Andreeva, Maria Sittel, Pavel Zarubin, Roman Chumakov and Sergei Polunin.

Source: a regulation of the Council of the European Union adopted on 29 January as to restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The six were added to the EU sanctions list over Russia's destabilising activities.

Dmitry Guberniev is a Russian TV host, journalist and sports commentator, an adviser to the CEO of the propaganda TV channel Rossiya and an adviser to the Russian Federation's sports minister.

Quote: "Guberniev is a public figure who has been using his popularity and influence in the public sphere to voice Russian propaganda and to justify the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. He supported the annexation of Crimea in 2014. He was one of the hosts of the propaganda rally in support of the war of aggression against Ukraine, which took place on 18 March 2022 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Guberniev has hosted multiple other concerts dedicated to the Russian war machine or to Vladimir Putin."

More details: Ekaterina Andreeva is a leading news anchor on Russian state-owned television. Since 1997 she has been the presenter and main face of the Vremya (Time) news programme on Channel One.

Quote: "Andreeva regularly spreads disinformation and propaganda about the war of aggression against Ukraine and supports the Russian armed forces and the so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics'. She regularly praises Putin's regime and spreads disinformation and propaganda about Ukraine, as well as the West. Moreover, Andreeva hosted 'Direct Line with Vladimir Putin' twice in 2001 and 2007, commented on Putin's inauguration in 2004, 2012, and 2018, and even commented on the army parade on May 9."

More details: Maria Sittel is a leading news anchor on Russian state television and has presented the Vesti (News) news programme on the Rossiya channel since 2001.

Quote: "Sittel hosted propaganda rallies in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and received significant amounts of money for her performance. She is a lecturer at the Ostankino Media Institute (school of Russian propaganda). She regularly praises Putin's regime and spreads disinformation and propaganda about the war of aggression against Ukraine. Sittel is included in the list of '1 500 Warmongers' (established by the Free Russia Forum, which is a conference of the Russian opposition) and hosted 'Direct Line with Vladimir Putin' in 2015."

More details: Pavel Zarubin is a prominent Russian propagandist with exclusive access to Vladimir Putin's schedule. He hosts Moscow. Kremlin. Putin TV programme, where he interviews Putin and praises him, calling him an "exceptional leader".

Quote: "Zarubin was the first propagandist permitted to interview Putin after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion against Ukraine. He often spreads anti-Ukrainian disinformation, referring to the Ukrainian government as 'a regime', among other things. In 2025, Zarubin also co-hosted the main propaganda event of that year, Direct Line with Vladimir Putin".

More details: Roman Chumakov is a Russian actor and singer.

Quote: "After the beginning of the Russian full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, he actively supported the Russian army. Roman Chumakov often visits soldiers on the front line and writes patriotic songs. He publicly praises and glorifies Vladimir Putin and also collects money for the Russian Armed Forces. Chumakov criticises artists who don't support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. According to his worldview, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are one nation and they must be reunited. Chumakov received two state awards from Putin."

More details: Sergei Polunin is a Russian ballet dancer of Ukrainian origin, a former rector of the Sevastopol Academy of Choreography and a recipient of the Presidential Prize for Young Cultural Figures.

Quote: "Since the beginning of the full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, Polunin has actively supported the Russian army, including by donating money to the Russian Armed Forces. He has urged others to do the same. Polunin participates in Kremlin propaganda TV shows and in the channels of internet bloggers, where he explains and defends his belief in the 'Russian world' doctrine. Polunin also criticises artists who escaped Russia after the beginning of the full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, and praises the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov."

Background:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is receiving "good signals" from Europe about European countries' readiness to keep increasing pressure on Russia to bring the war to an end.
• The European Commission is expected to publish a proposal for a new, 20th EU sanctions package against Russia next week.
• The EU plans to approve the 20th package of sanctions against Russia by 24 February 2026, the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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