In today's #vatnik soup, I'll introduce an oligarch and a propagandist Konstantin Malofeyev (or Malofeev). He's a prominent figure in both organizing and funding illegal paramilitary groups and fringe political groups.
1/15
Malofeyev is best known for his russian TV network, Tsargrad TV. This network started back in 2015 and in the same year Alexander Dugin was named as the channel's chief editor. Konstantin was sitting beside Dugin at Darya Dugina's funeral.
2/15
In 2016 Dugin was replaced at Tsargrad by another propagandist, Elena Sharoykina.
Tsargrad TV was set up with a help from Fox News veteran Jack Hanick. Hanick was launching Fox News already back in 1996, and in 2014 he started helping Malofeyev with Tsargrad.
3/15
Hanick was arrested in London on Feb 3, 2022, for circumventing US sanctions by helping sanctioned Malofeyev. Hanick also lied to the FBI about his trips to Greece and Bulgaria, where he helped to expand Konstantin's TV network.
4/15
Hanick wrote to Malofeyev that expanding the network is an "opportunity to detail Russia’s point of view on Greek TV"
He has launched a think tank organization called Katehon. It's a group offering publishing platform for pro-🇷🇺, Western activists and conspiracy theorists.
5/15
We have a lot of data on Malofeyev and his diabolical plans because of his carelessness - several phone calls between Malofeyev and other actors have been intercepted, and his and his associates e-mails have also been hacked.
6/15
He was closely linked to the events that took place in Donbas in 2014. In May, 2014, SBU intercepted a call between former FSB officer Igor Girkin and Malofeyev where Konstantin was providing military intelligence to Girkin.
7/15
In 2015 Novaya Gazeta published a document okay'd by Maloyfeyev, outlining the strategy for increasing unrest in Crimea and in Eastern Ukraine as a preparation for the upcoming annexation.
8/15
Hacking group Shaltay Boltay published leaked e-mails which revealed that Malofeyev has been funneling money to to radical nationalists and political movements in Europe: newlinesmag.com/reportage/excl…
9/15
Hacked e-mails have also shown that Konstantin is coordinating his shady businesses with the Kremlin, including an Orthodox priest Bishop Tikhon, who also happens to be a spiritual adviser of one Vladimir Putin.
10/15
He has also closely communicated with Putin's puppet master Vladislav Surkov about the annexations of Eastern Ukraine.
Malofeyev has launched several agencies that are used for pushing Russian propaganda around the world.
11/15
One of these is the International Agency for Sovereign Development (IASD) that focuses on pushing disinformation and propaganda in African countries. Members of IASD have declared that Russia is defending "traditional values" in Africa.
12/15
Malofeyev is also connected to a far-right propagandist and founder of the Kremlin mouthpiece and Russia Insider, Charles Bausman. Leaked e-mails showed that Bausman, who also took part in the Jan 6th, 2021 capitol attack, begged Konstantin for money back in 2015.
13/15
Konstantin has close ties to Russian anti-LGBT activist Alexey Komov and the Russian representative for the "World Congress of Families": splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018…
Komov is a prominent figure and I'll introduce him later on in another #vatnik soup.
14/15
Malofeyev was sanctioned by the US, EU and Canada in 2014. Ukraine has put him on international wanted list for establishing illegal paramilitary groups.
In today’s #vatniksoup, I’ll introduce an American politician and disbarred lawyer, Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani). He’s best-known for meddling with the pro-Kremlin forces in Ukraine, and for organizing the infamous Four Seasons Landscaping press conference.
1/22
Giuliani rose to fame as the mayor of NYC between 1994 and 2001. He adopted an aggressive enforcement strategy and organized crackdowns on relatively minor offenses like graffiti and cannabis possession. His role in the 9/11 aftermath made him a global superstar.
2/22
This fame gave Rudy new opportunities, and in 2006 he was invited to the bi-partisan Iraq Study Group (ISG), a group that assessed the situation in Iraq. He was soon kicked out of the group due to being more interested in making money by public speaking gigs.
In today’s 300th #vatniksoup, I’ll go through some of the most heroic feats that Ukrainians have achieved since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
In the last 900 days, under-equipped underdog Ukraine has fared well against the imperialist and genocidal Russia.
1/23
As in most conflicts, Ukraine relies heavily on leadership. For this reason, the Kremlin first focused their main propaganda efforts on Zelenskyy, even claiming that he had already fled from Ukraine to Poland. Soon after these allegations, Zelenskyy and his cabinet…
2/23
… published a video from the streets of Kyiv to fight this propaganda campaign. This video quickly became one of the biggest morale boosters for Ukraine, and it has become one of the most legendary and symbolic videos of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
In today’s #vatniksoup, I’ll introduce a British far-right activist, Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra). He’s best-known for his role in the far-right, Islamophobic organizations like the English Defence League (EDL) and his close connections to the Kremlin.
1/23
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was born in Luton and during his youth delved into a life of crime, serving four prison terms between 2005 and 2019. He used several pseudonyms to hide his criminal past, finally sticking to Tommy Robinson.
2/23
Tommy joined the fascist and far-right British National Party (BNP) in 2004 but left a year later. The party didn’t allow non-whites to join and was then led by Nick Griffin, who today is better known for sharing video game footage while claiming it’s real.
In today’s #vatniksoup, I’ll introduce an American politician and author, JD Vance (@JDVance). He’s best-known for his strong stance against US aid to Ukraine, and for being the Republican party’s nominee for vice president in the 2024 election.
1/20
Vance hails from the small town of Middletown, Ohio. His parents divorced when he was a toddler, JD’s mother struggled with drug addiction, and he was raised primarily by his grandparents. Later he enlisted in the US Marine Corps, and spent 6 months as a PR guy in Iraq.
2/20
In 2016, Harper published JD’s book, Hillbilly Elegy, in which he described his life and hardships, and the socioeconomic problems of his hometown. The book was very successful, and it was even adapted into a shitty Netflix movie. It also made JD famous.
In today’s #vatniksoup, I’ll discuss the Wagner Group, its founders Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, and the mutiny they started on 23 Jun 2023. The event marked the climax of the Wagner Group–Russian MoD conflict, and finally led to the deaths of Prigozhin and Utkin.
1/22
Wagner has been used in many conflicts around the world, but they came to global prominence during the war in Donbas in 2014-2015. Wagnerites helped the Donbas separatists fight against the Ukrainians during the conflict, which helped Putin to “outsource” the insurrection.
2/22
The group doesn’t have any central ideology, but many of its members and leaders have ties to various neo—Nazi movements in Russia. For example, Wagner leader Dmitry Utkin had several Nazi symbols tattooed on his body. Neo—nazi group Rusich has also fights as part of Wagner.
3/22
In today’s #vatniksoup, I’ll introduce an Amsterdam-based propaganda channel, Bonanza Media (@bonanzamedia2). It’s best-known for producing & spreading online pro-Kremlin propaganda videos while closely coordinating & collaborating with the Russian intelligence agency GRU.
1/19
Russian intelligence has been extremely active in the Netherlands for a long time. For example in 2018, four GRU agents were caught while trying to hack into OPCW,an organization that monitors the use of chemical weapons. In addition, the International Criminal Court (ICC)…
2/19
…and the MH17 investigation have become targets for the Russian intelligence and propaganda operations. These operations are often complemented with “investigative journalism” media outlets, that often echo the Kremlin’s propaganda and disinformation.