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Russia Plans Media Tours to Occupied Ukrainian Territories as Propaganda Push Expands to Madagascar
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Russia has agreed to open a new branch of its state foreign aid and cultural agency, Rossotrudnichestvo, in Madagascar, marking another step in the Kremlin’s effort to expand its global influence under the guise of humanitarian and educational programs, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) on November 12.
Moscow is using cultural cooperation and academic exchange as cover for spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda across Africa. The center said that the new office will focus on education and media outreach, including plans to organize press tours for Malagasy journalists to temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine—a move designed to legitimize Russia’s occupation narratives.
“The main goal of such institutions is to spread propaganda, foster loyalty to Russia’s actions, and distort the real picture of events,” the CCD said in a statement. “The Kremlin actively uses this tactic as a cover to expand its geopolitical influence.”
Rossotrudnichestvo—formally known as the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation—is often described as the Kremlin’s main “soft power” arm.
Officially, it promotes cultural diplomacy, Russian language education, and international partnerships. In practice, Western analysts and Ukrainian officials say the agency serves as an instrument of political influence abroad.
The CCD reported that Russia intends to open similar Rossotrudnichestvo offices in Nigeria, China, and Equatorial Guinea, continuing what it called “the global expansion of soft power.”
These new offices will join more than 60 existing branches worldwide, many of which operate cultural centers, education programs, and “Russian Houses”—venues that host events aligned with Kremlin narratives.
At the same time, several branches have recently been shut down. Rossotrudnichestvo’s operations were terminated in Moldova, Syria, and Azerbaijan in 2025, amid growing scrutiny of its activities and suspected intelligence ties.
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The opening in Madagascar comes as Moscow intensifies its outreach to Africa through trade, military cooperation, and media influence. Russian state media, including RT Africa and Sputnik Afrique, have expanded their French-language operations, while local partnerships are being used to push narratives sympathetic to Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
By embedding its agenda within “cultural diplomacy,” the Kremlin seeks to counter Western influence and recruit sympathetic voices across the Global South.
Analysts warn that Madagascar—strategically located in the Indian Ocean—could become another platform for Russian information operations targeting both African and European audiences.
For the Kremlin, Rossotrudnichestvo remains a key tool in this hybrid strategy—blending culture, education, and propaganda into a single framework of influence projection.
Earlier, reports emerged that Russia was deepening its economic cooperation with Kenya in what Ukrainian officials describe as an effort to expand Moscow’s political foothold in East Africa—and to use those ties as cover for recruiting African nationals to fight against Ukraine.
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