An American-born social media personality, sanctioned by the European Union for spreading wartime propaganda tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has declared she will not be silenced. Labeled a tool of Moscow’s disinformation machine, the influencer insists the penalties only prove she is on the correct side.
The individual, known online under a pseudonym that combines a Russian nickname with the country’s name, was targeted this week by Brussels for promoting Kremlin narratives while masquerading as a cultural and lifestyle content creator. The EU accuses her of using travel vlogs and posts about festivities to mask aggressive rhetoric backing Russia’s territorial claims against its neighbor.
Her response, posted on a Russian video-sharing platform, was defiant. She framed the sanctions as validation of her work and pledged to continue what she called her “mission.”
According to the official EU designation, she is accused of receiving payments from a Russian state-funded media outlet, averaging roughly $2,000 per month in the first three quarters of last year. This aligns with an earlier investigation that revealed how the outlet secretly bankrolled foreign-facing bloggers to present a favorable image of Russia.
The sanctions package, which targets dozens of individuals and entities, imposes a freeze on her assets and bars European firms from providing her with funds. Despite being banned from several major social media platforms, she remains active on another network, where she has publicly thanked its owner.
Her content often mixes travelogues with sharp critiques of Western societies and aggressive statements about Ukraine, which she has referred to as territory that would “soon be” part of Russia. The EU notes that she also received grants through a Kremlin-linked fund supporting cultural projects.
The influencer has previously stated she relocated to Russia due to its “traditional values,” a narrative commonly used in pro-Kremlin circles to critique Western liberal norms. Investigators found she participated in organized trips with other pro-Russian bloggers, amplifying positive stories about the country while downplaying the war.