Today, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Russian disinformation actors linked to the Kremlin, a strategic move endorsed by the United States as part of a broader effort to curb malign foreign influence. The newly sanctioned groups and individuals—Social Design Agency (SDA), Structura, ANO Dialogue, Andrey Perla, Nikolai Tupikin, and Ilya Gambashidze—were identified for their roles in spreading disinformation, including campaigns targeting the EU’s parliamentary elections.
The U.K.’s recent actions build upon the U.S. Treasury’s previous sanctions against these same networks and individuals. Last year, the State Department’s Global Engagement Center highlighted the SDA and Structura’s extensive efforts to infiltrate Latin American media with Kremlin-supported disinformation. This program, called “Doppelgänger,” leveraged over 60 fake websites impersonating European news sources, amplifying Kremlin narratives and undermining information integrity in Europe and beyond.
The United States remains committed to safeguarding an open, transparent information environment, which is vital to democratic governance. By joining forces, the U.S. and U.K. emphasize the need for global cooperation in identifying and countering disinformation, holding purveyors accountable, and protecting democratic values.
