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Russian Intelligence-Connected Websites Offline
Media outlets connected to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) have experienced RSS failures.
Media outlets connected to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Federal Security Service (FSB), and Main Directorate (GRU/GU) have experienced RSS and in-browser failures. Most of those mentioned below as having RSS failures also appear offline when accessed through a browser. At least one, Geopolitca, still appeared online in-browser yesterday, while the site’s RSS feed failed on August 22, 2023, at 10:24 p.m.
The websites experiencing failures (RSS or in-browser) as of 12:30 p.m. on August 24, 2023, include New Eastern Outlook, SouthFront, NewsFront, Oriental Review, Odna Rodyna, Strategic Culture Foundation, InfoRos (not new, and still accessible inside Russia), and One World Press.
This collection of websites is known for spreading conspiracy theories, disinformation, misleading geopolitical content, and denying war crimes. U.S. officials have sanctioned all websites mentioned for their connections to Russian intelligence, with the exception of Veterans Today. Veterans Today is still online but was checked because it has a partnership with New Eastern Outlook and Colonel Evgeny Khruschev, a Russian psychological operations officer and RT employee, sat on Veterans Today’s Board of Directors starting in 2010.
Journal Kamerton also appears to be online, as are Antifashist, Veterans Today, and United World International. These are described in more detail below.
Failing Websites
As of 12:30 p.m. on August 24, 2023.
New Eastern Outlook
New Eastern Outlook (NEO) began failing on August 22, 2023, at 3:12 a.m., according to my record logs. NEO has been accused of promoting disinformation and propaganda by the US government and is allegedly directed by Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR).
The site is associated with the Russian Academy of Science’s Institute of Oriental Studies. It combines pro-Kremlin views of Russian academics with anti-US views of Western fringe voices and conspiracy theorists.
