Former RT France editor Ksenia Fedorova joins CNews, spreading Russian propaganda

Ksenia Fedorova, former editor-in-chief of RT France, has taken a position at French right-wing conservative channel CNews. According to Politico and RFI's Russian service, she continues to promote Russian propaganda talking points in her new role.

Ksenia Fedorova, who previously served as editor-in-chief of RT France, has secured a new position at CNews, a French right-wing conservative television channel, according to reports from Politico and the Russian service of Radio France Internationale (RFI).

Fedorova's move to CNews has drawn scrutiny from media observers, who note that she continues to reproduce messaging aligned with Russian state propaganda in her new role. The development raises fresh concerns about the spread of Kremlin-friendly narratives through mainstream European media platforms.

RT France was shut down in 2022 following the European Union's decision to ban Russian state media outlets after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The channel had long been criticized for functioning as a propaganda arm of the Russian government rather than an independent news outlet.

CNews, known for its populist and right-leaning editorial stance, has faced repeated criticism in France over its broadcasting standards. The channel's decision to give a platform to a former senior RT editor has reignited debate about how Russian influence operations adapt and continue operating after direct state media channels are blocked.

The case of Fedorova illustrates a broader pattern analysts have identified: former employees of banned Russian media finding new homes in Western outlets sympathetic to Kremlin viewpoints, allowing pro-Russian narratives to reach audiences that might otherwise be shielded from direct state-backed disinformation.