#SWITCHOFFRUSSIAN

Russia is waging war not only against Ukraine, but against the entire civilized world.
The terrorist state is present in all key spheres of society: political, economic, informational, and humanitarian.
In each of them, over decades, it has expanded its influence, developed its own networks, and legalized them in accordance with local legislation in order to later use them to its advantage.

The family of Russian oligarch Obnosov (the owner of JSC “Tactical Missiles Corporation”) lived in the center of Prague and conducted business there until we drew the attention of the Czech authorities to them.

Under sanctions: the family of Obnosov, owner of a Russian missile plant, added to the Czech national sanctions list

Russian military aggression against Ukraine is only the tip of the iceberg. Behind it stands a vast infrastructure of individuals and entire groups, political parties, civic organizations, and journalists in other countries and regions. They ensure information gathering, influence national and international political processes, spread propaganda, and carry out targeted influence campaigns.
It is largely thanks to this network that by the end of November 2023 Russia increased the pace of missile weapons production despite sanctions and increased funding for national defense in the following year.

It is time to acknowledge: Russia is ready to wage a long war and will stop only where it is stopped.

WHERE DID WE START?

USCC

For years, the team of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation has been studying Russia’s hybrid war. Since its creation, the #SwitchOffRussian initiative has been aimed at identifying, exposing, and countering Kremlin influence in the political, economic, informational, and humanitarian spheres.

We ran campaigns against key Kremlin-linked figures—Viktor Medvedchuk, Rinat Akhmetov, Vadym Novynskyi, Dmytro Firtash, and Serhii Liovochkin. The “Switch Off Russian” campaigns helped shut down Medvedchuk’s TV channels (owned by Vladimir Putin’s close associate)—“NewsOne,” “112,” and “ZiK” (on February 2, 2021, the channels were sanctioned by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and ceased broadcasting).

With the start of the full-scale invasion, we expanded our mission worldwide, uniting Ukrainians and Ukraine’s partners to #SwitchOffRussian

Where is it time to #TurnOffRussian?

*(only identified Russian influences are shown above; in reality, these figures may be significantly higher)

The Ukrainian Centre for Security and Cooperation is currently forming a permanent international network to identify and counter Russian influence.

IN THE ECONOMY

Russian companies systematically legitimize Russian money in foreign markets and finance networks of influence. More than 31,000 companies operating in Europe alone have Russian beneficial owners. Of these, 1,400 are owned by Russians who are subject to sanctions.

Through their tax payments in Russia, Western companies continue to support key sectors of the Russian economy. Of nearly 1,500 international companies that operated in Russia, only up to 9% have left the Russian market. Those that remain continue to help finance the war: 19.5% are German companies, 12.4% are American, and 7% are Japanese.

У 2023 році аналітики зафіксували мінімум 155 компаній, чия продукція безпосередньо пов’язана із веденням росією війни: постачанням деталей для військової техніки та зброї.

IN POLITICS

At least 250 foreign nationals from 65 countries have served as so-called observers during illegal elections held in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine since 2014. They have become a key part of Russia’s influence network targeting Western societies and continue to promote Russian narratives in the European Parliament, as well as in national and local parliaments and governments across Western countries.

More than 500 pro-Russian civil society organizations operate around the world. Through these organizations, the Kremlin funds and implements projects, forums, rallies, and information campaigns that follow the narratives and guidelines of Russian propaganda.

More than 250 individuals and companies involved in lobbying for Russian interests at the political level reside outside Russia and may not even be Russian citizens. Nevertheless, they willingly advance the Kremlin’s agenda in exchange for Russian funding.

In media

Offices of major Russian propaganda outlets continue to operate in European capitals, including Russia Today, TASS, and RIA Novosti (office in Berlin, Germany, Steglitz district), Moskovsky Komsomolets (office in Frankfurt, Germany, Wilhelm-Leuschner-Str. 41), and NewsFront (editorial offices in Bulgaria, Serbia, Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Hungary) (as of May 2022).

Російська пропаганда обходить санкції через 250 сайтів, що видають себе за аналітичні центри чи ЗМІ. Близько половини є англомовними, інші поширюють матеріали французькою, німецькою чи італійською.

Opinion leaders, experts, and journalists working for media outlets across different countries who promote Russian narratives and serve as key sources of Russian disinformation for their audiences.

IN CULTURE

Російські та білоруські спортсмени в більшості одночасно є військовослужбовцями та активно залучаються до поширення пропаганди та легітимізації військової агресії.

The Russian Orthodox Church maintains jurisdiction over Orthodox churches in Latvia, Estonia, and Moldova, as well as individual parishes in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and many other European countries. In addition, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has been actively developing infrastructure and outreach networks aimed at working with Ukrainian refugees abroad.

WHERE DID WE START?

HOW HAVE WE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2022?

Where is it time to #TurnOffRussian?

IN THE ECONOMY

Russian business in the world

Western business in Russia

Sanctions violators

IN POLITICS

International observers

Civil society sector

Russian “outsourcing”

In media

Branches of Russian media outlets

Access to Russian information

Talking heads

IN CULTURE

Russian sport

Church