EU sanctions former Ukrainian TV host Diana Panchenko over pro-Russian propaganda
Diana Panchenko (Photo: Press Service of the President of Belarus)

The European Union on Monday, December 15, expanded its sanctions regime targeting destabilizing activities against the EU and its partners, adding two legal entities and 12 individuals to the list. Among those sanctioned is former Ukrainian television presenter Diana Panchenko.

According to the sanctions justification, Panchenko is described as a journalist and propagandist of Ukrainian origin who creates and disseminates anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian, and anti-NATO narratives.

"Diana Panchenko is a Ukrainian-born journalist and propagandist. She produces and diffuses anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian, anti-NATO narratives. In her videos, she deliberately mimics news-broadcast formats, in order to legitimise the Kremlin’s narratives. She manipulates information to portray Ukrainian authorities as "Nazis" and accuses them of betraying their own people, while justifying Russia’s military aggression and crimes," the document states.

Panchenko actively spreads conspiratorial and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric through her Telegram channel, which has around 402,000 subscribers, as well as on the social media platform X, where she has approximately 148,000 followers. On X, she seeks to expand her English-speaking audience by using clickbait content and promoting pro-Russian accounts.

In 2023, Panchenko was formally notified of suspicion on charges of high treason in Ukraine and was also placed under Ukrainian sanctions.

In addition to Panchenko, the EU sanctions list includes American national John Mark Dougan, a former Florida deputy sheriff who fled to Russia; former Swiss Army colonel Jacques Baud; French businessman Xavier Moreau; and Russian foreign-policy figures Andrei Sushentsov, Fedor Lukyanov, Dmitry Suslov, Ivan Timofeev, among others.

  • The EU adopted the sanctions regime in response to Russia’s destabilizing actions in October 2024, initially targeting individuals and entities undermining the EU’s values, security, and stability, as well as organizers of hybrid operations. In 2025, the scope of the measures was expanded to include asset freezes, funding restrictions, and the blocking of Russian media outlets involved in disinformation.
  • The current sanctions are set to be extended for 12 months, until October 9, 2026.