From prime-time TV to sanctions list: EU targets Kremlin’s media faces

The European Union has added another group of high-profile Russian media figures and cultural personalities to its growing sanctions regime, underlining that the latest designations are part of a much longer list targeting those seen as supporting or amplifying the Kremlin’s war narrative.

The newly sanctioned are accused of contributing to the Kremlin’s information campaigns and broader destabilising activities. The measures, adopted on 29 January through an EU Council implementing regulation, include entry bans to EU member states and the freezing of assets held in European jurisdictions.

Among those sanctioned are several of the most recognisable faces of Russian state television, as well as figures from the cultural sphere who have publicly aligned themselves with the Russian authorities.

They are responsible for, implementing, supporting and benefiting from actions and policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Union and in Ukraine, through the use of information manipulation and interference, and through supporting a violent conflict in Ukraine, the EU states.

The move follows earlier EU sanctions against some of Russia’s most prominent propagandists, including leading state television figures such as Vladimir Soloviev, Margarita Simonyan and Olga Skabeeva, who have long been central to amplifying Kremlin narratives.

Ekaterina Andreeva

Ekaterina Andreeva is one of Russia’s best-known television journalists and a long-time anchor of Vremya, the flagship evening news programme on Channel One. Born in Moscow in 1965, she has been a central figure in Russian state broadcasting since the 1990s and is closely associated with the editorial line of the Kremlin.

Through her work on Channel One, Andreeva has played a key role in shaping official narratives on both domestic politics and foreign policy. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she has remained a prominent presenter of coverage aligned with the government’s position. Critics and international observers frequently cite her as a symbol of Russia’s tightly controlled media environment.

Andreeva has received multiple state and professional awards over the years, reinforcing her status within Russia’s official media establishment.

Maria Sittel

Maria Sittel is a well-known Russian television presenter and journalist, most closely associated with the state-owned broadcaster Rossiya-1. She has hosted flagship news programmes and political talk shows, becoming a familiar presence for Russian audiences over the past two decades.

Sittel is also known for her institutional role within Russian media. She has served as chair of the Russian Union of Journalists, an organisation that critics say has increasingly aligned itself with the state rather than defending press independence. In that capacity, she has publicly supported official policies and narratives promoted by the authorities.

Her inclusion on the EU sanctions list reflects Brussels’ assessment that senior media figures like Sittel play an active role in legitimising and amplifying state messaging, particularly during periods of heightened political and military tension involving Russia.

Dmitry Guberniev

Dmitry Guberniev is a prominent Russian sports journalist and television presenter, best known for his work as a commentator and host on state television. While primarily associated with sports broadcasting, Guberniev has also become a public figure who frequently comments on political and social issues.

In recent years, he has used his media profile and social media presence to express support for the Russian authorities and their policies. His public statements have often echoed official narratives, blurring the line between sports journalism and political messaging.

He 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 Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Guberniev has hosted multiple other concerts dedicated to the Russian war machine or to Vladimir Putin. He was among the trusted representatives of Vladimir Putin in the 2024 presidential elections.

Pavel Zarubin

Pavel Zarubin is a Russian television journalist best known for his close access to the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin. He works for Rossiya-1 and has built a reputation for producing interviews and reports that offer rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Russian leadership.

Dubbed “Putin’s favoutite journslist”, Zarubin has conducted multiple high-profile interviews with the Kremlin chief and senior officials, never asking uncomfortable questions. His work is widely seen as part of the Kremlin’s strategic communication efforts, aimed at shaping both domestic and international perceptions of Russia’s leadership.

He 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 show of that year, “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”.

Sergey Polunin

Sergey Polunin is a ballet dancer and former head of the Sevastopol Theatre who has repeatedly attracted attention for his outspoken political views. Once an internationally acclaimed performer, Polunin has publicly aligned himself with the Russian authorities and expressed support for the Kremlin’s actions.

Born in Ukraine, his Ukrainian citizenship was terminated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in October last year. Polunin has since continued to position himself as a cultural figure loyal to Russia, including through public statements and symbolic gestures.

Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Polunin has publicly aligned himself with the Russian military, including through financial contributions to the armed forces, and has encouraged others to follow suit. He has appeared on Kremlin-aligned television programmes and on online platforms run by pro-government bloggers, where he promotes and defends the concept of the so-called “Russian world”. Polunin has also spoken critically of artists who left Russia after the outbreak of the war, while expressing admiration for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Roman Chumakov

Russian rapper and performer Roman Chumakov, better known as Roman Zhigan, has gained visibility through his work in entertainment and popular culture. While not primarily a political figure, he has publicly supported the Russian authorities and taken positions aligned with official state narratives.

Chumakov has been publicly involved in activities supporting Russian troops, including visits to frontline areas and the performance of overtly patriotic songs. He has repeatedly expressed admiration for President Vladimir Putin and has taken part in fundraising efforts for the Russian armed forces. Chumakov has also criticised cultural figures who do not endorse Russia’s war against Ukraine. In his public statements, he promotes the view that Russia, Ukraine and Belarus constitute a single nation that should be reunited. He has received two state awards from Putin’s hand.

Sources: Council of the European Union, Implementing Regulation on restrictive measures in view of the destabilising activities of the Russian Federation, 29 January 2026; publicly available biographies and media profiles of the sanctioned individuals

Caption: Russian rapper Roman Chumakov, better known as Roman Zhigan, poses in front of a mural bearing the slogan “The whole world is Russia, and its heart is Donbas,” a phrase commonly used in pro-Kremlin nationalist messaging. The image is taken from the artist’s public Instagram profile.