Federal News Agency

RIA FAN is the abbreviation commonly used for the Federal News Agency, a Russian online publisher whose website was registered in 2014. The available reference material does not identify a definitive individual founder for the outlet itself. Its later history is principally documented through its relationship with Patriot Media Group, a media conglomerate officially founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2019. Patriot Media Group assembled a large collection of Russian-language publications. RIA FAN was described as its most prominent outlet, alongside titles such as Politika Segodnya, Ekonomika Segodnya, Narodnye Novosti, and Nevskie Novosti. The group was headquartered in Saint Petersburg and was also reported to have offices or operations connected with Africa and Crimea. RIA FAN's political identity was closely tied to the wider Patriot network. External accounts described the outlet as strongly patriotic and pro-Kremlin, with reporting that supported Prigozhin's activities and attacked his perceived rivals. A Cardiff University investigation published in 2021 reported coordination between Russian state media and Patriot-linked outlets and characterized parts of the network as disseminating propaganda and disinformation. RIA FAN also had documented organizational links with the Internet Research Agency, including office-sharing before 2015 and overlap in personnel or broader operating structures. The outlet became subject to international platform and governmental measures. In December 2018, before Patriot Media Group formally existed, the U.S. Treasury designated RIA FAN and associated entities for alleged roles in Project Lakhta, an election-interference effort. Meta later banned the outlet in connection with foreign-interference activity linked to the Internet Research Agency. In 2023, the European Union sanctioned RIA FAN together with the Wagner Group over activity it said threatened Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The decisive organizational break came after the Wagner Group rebellion of 23–24 June 2023. On 30 June, Roskomnadzor blocked five Patriot Media Group outlets, and the group announced its closure. National Media Group was discussed as a potential buyer of the group's assets, but the proposed transaction did not occur according to the cited source. The closure of the parent group is documented, while the source material does not establish whether the RIA FAN brand continued independently, making its present status uncertain.

1. 2023EU sanctions RIA FAN

   The European Union sanctioned RIA FAN alongside the Wagner Group over activity connected with threats to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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2. 2023Patriot Media Group blocked and closed

   Following the Wagner rebellion, Roskomnadzor blocked five group outlets and Patriot Media Group announced its closure on 30 June.

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3. 2021Investigation reports coordination with state media

   A Cardiff University investigation reported coordination between Russian state media and Patriot Media Group outlets and described propaganda and disinformation concerns.

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4. 2019Patriot Media Group formally founded

   Yevgeny Prigozhin formally established Patriot Media Group, bringing RIA FAN into the holding's prominent publishing network.

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5. 2018U.S. Treasury designation

   The United States designated RIA FAN and related entities over alleged participation in the Project Lakhta election-interference effort.

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6. 2014RIA FAN website registered

   The RIA FAN website was registered, establishing the earliest date identified in the available reference material for the outlet's online presence.

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A Russian digital news outlet positioned around fast-moving political, domestic, economic, and international reporting, with a strongly patriotic and pro-Kremlin editorial orientation. External researchers and media organizations have also associated its content and distribution network with propaganda, disinformation, and influence operations.

• RIA FAN websiteDigital news2014

  The outlet's principal product was its Russian-language online news publication. It carried political, domestic, economic, regional, and international stories, together with opinionated commentary. Reporting about the publication emphasizes its patriotic and pro-Kremlin framing and its favorable treatment of Yevgeny Prigozhin and associated causes.

• 2023Patriot Media Group closureOther

  The decision followed the failed Wagner Group rebellion of 23–24 June 2023.

  What changed. The parent media group was announced to be closing, while Roskomnadzor blocked access to five of its outlets.

  Aftermath. A possible acquisition by National Media Group was discussed but did not occur according to the available reference. RIA FAN's independent status after the closure is not established.

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• 2019Integration into Patriot Media GroupStrategy

  Patriot Media Group was formally established as a broader media holding associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin, incorporating RIA FAN among its principal outlets.

  What changed. RIA FAN operated within a network of political, economic, regional, and general-interest publications.

  Aftermath. The outlet became the most prominent public-facing brand in the Patriot Media Group network.

  Source

• 2023Sanctions and closure following the Wagner rebellionControversy

  RIA FAN's association with Patriot Media Group and the Wagner-linked media ecosystem came under heightened scrutiny after the June 2023 rebellion. Roskomnadzor blocked group outlets, the parent group closed, and the European Union imposed sanctions on RIA FAN.

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• 2018Project Lakhta election-interference designationControversy

  The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated RIA FAN for its alleged role in the Project Lakhta election-interference effort. The designation placed the outlet within a wider network of Russian entities identified by U.S. authorities.

  Source

• 2023European Union sanctions RIA FAN alongside Wagner Group

  The European Union imposed sanctions on RIA FAN, citing actions described as undermining or threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence.

  RegulationOther
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• 2023Roskomnadzor blocks Patriot Media Group outlets after Wagner rebellion

  On 30 June 2023, Russia's media regulator blocked access to five Patriot Media Group outlets, including outlets within the group's publishing network, after the Wagner rebellion.

  RegulationLeadership change
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• 2023Patriot Media Group announces closure

  Patriot Media Group was announced to be closing on 30 June 2023 after the failed Wagner Group rebellion. A reported possibility of a sale to National Media Group did not materialize.

  OtherM&A
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• 2018United States designates RIA FAN in Project Lakhta sanctions

  The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated RIA FAN and related media entities over alleged involvement in the Project Lakhta election-interference effort.

  RegulationOther
  Source
• Meta bans RIA FAN in foreign-interference response

  Meta banned RIA FAN in connection with activity associated with the Internet Research Agency and alleged foreign interference.

  RegulationOther
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1. Patriot Media Group