Kremlin agency funds foreign bloggers with Putin’s Presidential Foundation grants.
Alexandra Jost (“Sasha Meets Russia”) is among 35 bloggers managed by PR firm "Limitless".
She earned up to $2,000/month from sanctioned RT while denying payments — United24. 1/
Alexandra Jost (“Sasha Meets Russia”) is among 35 bloggers managed by PR firm "Limitless".
She earned up to $2,000/month from sanctioned RT while denying payments — United24. 1/
Putin’s Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives (PFKI) gave Limitless $325K for “The Caucasus Below Me” with bloggers like Jost.
In 2022, PFKI spent $3.6M on 29 projects glorifying Russia’s invasion and targeting occupied Ukrainian areas. 2/
In 2022, PFKI spent $3.6M on 29 projects glorifying Russia’s invasion and targeting occupied Ukrainian areas. 2/
Limitless describes itself as Russia's first agency working with "loyal foreign bloggers" to promote Russia as a "Land of Opportunity."
Italian musician Lorenzo Bagnati leads the network with 2.12 million YouTube followers, setting the template for other propagandists. 3/
Italian musician Lorenzo Bagnati leads the network with 2.12 million YouTube followers, setting the template for other propagandists. 3/
Maria Dudko, 30, founded Limitless and manages the influencer network while maintaining minimal online presence (1,000 Telegram subscribers).
Dudko previously worked as assistant to State Duma Deputy Chairman and PR Service Head for a State Duma deputy. 4/
Dudko previously worked as assistant to State Duma Deputy Chairman and PR Service Head for a State Duma deputy. 4/
Dudko met Maria Butina, convicted in 2018 as a Russian foreign agent in the US, to discuss “cooperation with foreign bloggers.”
The project says it targets youth, noting public opinion now forms more on social media than in traditional media. 5/
The project says it targets youth, noting public opinion now forms more on social media than in traditional media. 5/
Peruvian blogger Crystal Greek grew from 4K to 83K YouTube followers after Limitless arranged filming and event access.
Limitless also manages Iranian food blogger Romina Bagheri (3.3M TikTok), American Carlos Lopez (850K YouTube), German biker Sven Svenson (145K TikTok). 6/
Limitless also manages Iranian food blogger Romina Bagheri (3.3M TikTok), American Carlos Lopez (850K YouTube), German biker Sven Svenson (145K TikTok). 6/
PFKI-funded “Experts Club of the Russian Donbas” promoted claims of “Nazism in modern Ukraine” in occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Propagandist Ruslan Ostashko, who got a PFKI grant for “Children of the Donbas,” became guardian of a child deported from Luhansk in 2023. 7/
Propagandist Ruslan Ostashko, who got a PFKI grant for “Children of the Donbas,” became guardian of a child deported from Luhansk in 2023. 7/
Limitless handles filming and production across channels, meaning bloggers receive state-funded support for fame in exchange for content softening Russia's image as mischaracterized by "Western propaganda.” 8X
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