Kseniya Kirillova
Kseniya Kirillova is an investigative journalist and analyst focused on analyzing Russian society and mechanisms of action of Russian propaganda (including in the US) along with Russian “soft power,” “active measures” and foreign policy.
Ms. Kirillova is the author of several hundred articles, including research on Russian propaganda and soft power for the Atlantic Council, the British Institute for Statecraft (The Integrity Initiative project), Homeland Security Today (US), EU Today, the British-Canadian security project Defense Report, Ukrainian English-language media Kyiv Post and Euromaidan Press, Stop Fake project, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and others.
While living in Russia, she worked as a journalist for the largest Ural media holding Ural Worker (2008-2010) and the Ural branch of Novaya Gazeta (2011-2013)
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Articles by Kseniya Kirillova
Russian Communists Try to Control Popular Discontent
In the run-up to September’s legislative elections to the State Duma (lower chamber of the Russian parliament), the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) has been notably active. Traditionally,
Russian Media Misrepresents US Anti-Terrorism Strategy to Justify Repressions in Russia
Russian propaganda has been actively discussing the United States’ National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, released by the White House on June 15. Russian outlets claim that now “anyone in
Analyst Kseniya Kirillova in The Daily Beast about FBI Investigating Russian Diaspora
On June 7, The Daily Beast published an article about the Russian diaspora being under investigation by the FBI. The article included commentary by Jamestown analyst Kseniya Kirillova. According to
Russian Propaganda Focuses on Kazan School Shooting Tragedy
On May 11, news emerged of a terrible tragedy in Kazan, the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan—19-year-old Ilnaz Galyaviyev brought a weapon to the school he had graduated
Russian Influence in Montenegro Could Create a Threat for NATO’s Information Security
A scandal erupted in Montenegro at the end of March: the head of the Balkan country’s National Security Agency (ANB), Dejan Vukšić, was charged with revealing secret information during a
Poverty and Passivity: Are New Protests Expected in the Russian Regions?
On January 2, Russian media quietly reported that, “in Khabarovsk [Russian Far East], unsanctioned actions in support of former Governor Sergei Furgal came to an end” (RIA Novosti, January 2).
Russian Authorities Redouble Pressure to Preserve Crimeans’ Loyalty
Moscow and most Russian regions saw a series of huge rallies at the end of January and early February, in which protesters demanded the immediate release of Russian dissident and
Behind the Rumors of Putin’s Illness: Distraction or Signal of Looming Changes at the Top?
This past month saw a new surge in “leaks” and speculation about the state of President Vladimir Putin’s health along with suggestions in the press that he might, therefore, be
Ukraine’s Geopolitical Successes Become Russian Defeats
In the first half of October, the Ukrainian leadership concluded a series of important international agreements, with significance not only for Kyiv itself but also for buttressing regional security more
Can Turmoil in Belarus and Karabakh Inspire a New Patriotic Surge in Russia?
Protests in Belarus and the fighting in Karabakh have upended relations between the Russian authorities and the leaders of Minsk and Yerevan. In the past, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and
Ukrainian Reverberations of the Wagner Arrests in Belarus: Russian Disinformation?
A scandal surrounding the alleged “betrayal” by a high-ranking official of the presidential administration is rapidly gaining momentum in Ukraine. The situation curiously concerns the detention of 33 mercenaries from
Protests in Khabarovsk: Causes and Directions
Demonstrations in Khabarovsk Krai, prompted by the July 9 arrest of regional governor Sergei Furgal, have become among the largest and longest of recent protest actions inside the Russian Federation,
Latent Russian Dissatisfaction: On the Explicit and Hidden Implications of Putin’s Constitutional Reform
The newly approved amendments to the Russian constitution went into force on July 4. The night before, President Vladimir Putin signed the relevant executive order. According to official data, in
Moscow Pressures Ukrainian Authorities by Stepping Up Passportization Efforts
On June 9, Russian parliamentarian Viktor Vodolatskiy declared that this year, 600,000–800,000 inhabitants of the unrecognized “republics” on the occupied territory of Ukrainian Donbas will receive Russian citizenship (TASS, June
Russian Influence Grows in Central Asia
The Russian Federation is strengthening its economic integration with several Central Asian states. At the beginning of April, the authorities of Uzbekistan and Russia agreed to set up an economic
Russian Population Does Not Trust the Authorities but Still Believes the Propaganda
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a growing public mistrust toward the Russian authorities. But at the same time, most Russians still believe state-promoted anti-Western conspiracy theories. The situation around the
Russia Tries to Capitalize on the Coronavirus Pandemic
While the whole world copes with the crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic responsible for COVID-19, Moscow has been attempting to take advantage of the situation. Under the pretext
Russia Pushes to Drastically Expand Its Influence Over Ukraine, Rest of Post-Soviet Space
In recent months, the Kremlin dramatically stepped up efforts to push its interests and political agenda across the post-Soviet space as part of various “negotiations” and “conflict resolution procedures.” A
Russia Faces New Demands and Conditions From Bulgaria
Tensions between Russia and Bulgaria looked on the verge of resolution at the end of last month. But trust between the two countries has since declined. In late January, Bulgaria
Is a ‘Soviet Revanche’ Possible in Russia?
At the end of last year, the conference “Russia-2024: Left Turn or National Disaster?” was held in Moscow. One of its organizers, a Russian opposition politician known for his radical-left
Serbia’s Espionage Scandal May Point to Moscow’s Growing Mistrust of Serbian Leadership
An espionage scandal has erupted in Serbia over the possible recruitment of a senior Serbian official by Russian special services. A video posted online by someone using the YouTube handle