Biden Administration Reveals New Evidence of RT’s Involvement in Russian Intelligence Operations

On Friday, the Biden administration unveiled a major initiative aimed at countering the global influence of RT, the Russian state media network. The announcement underscores RT’s crucial role in Russia’s international intelligence and influence operations, according to the administration.

The State Department declassified new intelligence findings suggesting that RT is deeply embedded in Russia’s global intelligence network. This revelation is part of a broader diplomatic effort to inform other nations about the potential dangers associated with RT’s activities.

“Recent intelligence, much of it from RT insiders, has revealed that RT has developed cyber capabilities and engaged in covert information operations and military procurement,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.

A significant discovery from the intelligence is that the Russian government has covertly placed an intelligence unit within RT for over a year. This unit has been focused on global influence operations, marking a substantial expansion of RT’s role as an extension of the Kremlin’s voice and power abroad. According to US officials, this includes activities beyond mere propaganda and covert influence, extending into military procurement.

“RT serves as a cover through which information from this unit is channeled to Russian intelligence services, media outlets, mercenary groups, and other Russian state and proxy entities,” Blinken explained.

In addition to these covert operations, Blinken accused RT’s leadership of managing an online crowdfunding campaign to provide military equipment to Russian forces in Ukraine. This campaign allegedly supplied items such as sniper rifles, suppressors, body armor, night vision equipment, drones, radio equipment, personal weapon sights, and diesel generators to Russian troops.

The primary goal of the US announcement, alongside private discussions with allied diplomats, is to ensure that countries recognize the collaboration between RT and Russian intelligence agencies. This coalition is intended to counteract efforts to destabilize democratic processes and to hinder RT’s global operations, according to a senior administration official.

In response, RT dismissed the allegations with a mocking statement, saying, “We’ve been broadcasting straight out of the KGB headquarters all this

This announcement is part of a broader US government strategy to diminish RT’s international influence. It follows recent federal charges against two RT employees for secretly channeling nearly $10 million into a US company to create and promote content aligned with Russian interests. This covert campaign was aimed at American audiences in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, US officials indicated.

US diplomats are preparing for upcoming international events, including the UN General Assembly, to build a coalition of nations willing to address the perceived threat from RT. RT, formerly known as Russia Today, operates television and online platforms worldwide that support the Kremlin’s agenda. In 2017, the US Department of Justice compelled RT America to register as a foreign agent, following conclusions that the network contributed to Russian interference in the 2016 election.

US officials believe RT’s propaganda and disinformation efforts have significantly influenced global perceptions of the Ukraine war, a senior administration official said While RT was banned in the European Union following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and is not broadcast in the US, its presence has been growing in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

James Rubin, coordinator for the Global Engagement Center, commented that RT’s broadcasts have had a negative impact on global views of the Ukraine conflict, which he described as a clear-cut issue. He noted that RT’s resort to covert operations is a response to restrictions on its activities in some Western nations.

In a related development, US prosecutors revealed in July that RT operated a network of over 1,000 social media accounts posing as US residents to spread anti-Ukraine propaganda. This scheme, financed by the Kremlin and aided by an officer from Russia’s FSB intelligence service, further exemplifies RT’s covert activities.

It remains unclear whether the Russian intelligence unit within RT is still operational. “I can’t provide an answer to that,” Rubin said.

The US-led effort to target RT globally is seen as a continuation of the strategy used against Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant, which began during the Trump administration and has continued under President Biden. This approach successfully persuaded many countries to avoid using Huawei’s equipment, based on the argument that the company was a tool of the Chinese government.