European UnionEUR-Lex
EU sanctions former RT France chief Xenia Fedorova
The Council lists former RT France chief Xenia Fedorova as entry 81 under the Russia destabilising-activities regime with effect from 24 September 2026.
By Taxxa AI OyPublished 24 September 2026
The Council has added Xenia Vladimirovna Fedorova, the former president and director of information of RT France, to the EU sanctions list targeting Russia's destabilising activities, with effect from 24 September 2026Europa
Europa.
Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/2164 amends Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2165 amends Regulation (EU) 2024/2642Europa. Both acts were adopted in Brussels on 24 September 2026 and enter into force on the date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union
Europa
Europa. The Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Fedorova is entered as listing number 81 under the heading "A. Natural persons" in Annex I to each act.
Europa
Europa
The identifying information published for the listing gives her function as former President and Director of Information of Russia Today France between 2017 and 2022, writer, journalist and columnist, date of birth 26 December 1980, Russian nationality, female gender, and her X and Instagram accounts.
The statement of reasons describes Fedorova as a Russian media figure and former senior executive of RT France who is active in disseminating pro-Russian narratives in France and the Union in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. She joined RT in 2005, headed Ruptly, RT's Berlin-based video agency, from 2015 to 2017, and then led RT France from 2017, participating in the implementation and dissemination of its editorial line, including narratives aligned with those promoted by the Russian authorities. After RT's broadcasting activities in the Union were suspended, she continued to disseminate such narratives in French media concerning the war, European support for Ukraine, NATO and relations between Russia and the Union. The Council cites in particular her portrayal of Western and European support for Ukraine as prolonging the war, her presentation of Russia as seeking peace while Europe pursues confrontation, her questioning of established accounts of the unlawful transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children, and her narratives portraying European and NATO policies as threats to European security. Since 2025 she has regularly contributed to several French media outlets, including CNews, Europe 1 and Le JDNews, reaching a broad French audience.
The recitals recall that on 8 October 2024 the Council adopted the underlying Decision 2024/2643 and Regulation 2024/2642, and that in conclusions of 18 and 19 June 2026 the European Council condemned recent hybrid attacks against the Union and its Member States and called for urgent efforts to strengthen resilience and respond to hybrid attacks, notably by Russia and Belarus. In view of the gravity of the situation, the Council considers that this one natural person should be added to the list.
The statement of reasons adds that the French authorities have publicly identified Fedorova as relaying Kremlin disinformation and that in July 2026 they adopted an expulsion measure against her. For practitioners, the consequence is that Fedorova is now a listed person under the restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities: entry 81, with 24.9.2026 as the date of listingEuropa, now sits in Annex I to Decision 2024/2643
Europa and in Annex I to Regulation 2024/2642
Europa.
Legal basis: Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/2164 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643, and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2165 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2642.
Add Xenia Vladimirovna Fedorova (entry 81, listed 24 September 2026) to sanctions screening against Annex I to Decision 2024/2643 and Regulation 2024/2642, and report any funds or activity touching her to the competent authority.
Sources
- COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2026/2164 of 24 September 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities
- COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/2165 of 24 September 2026 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities