News Feed

The Insider: Deported Sputnik Moldova head worked for Russian Intelligence

1 min read

Russian investigative news outlet The Insider reported that the head of Sputnik Moldova, who was recently deported back to Russia, is a Russian intelligence officer specializing in disinformation.    

Vitaliy Denisov, head of the Moldova branch of the Russian state-owned Sputnik TV, was ordered to depart Chisinau on Sept. 13. Once he landed in Moscow, he told media that he was banned from Moldova for 10 years.  

The Insider reported that Denisov, who originates from Zakarpattia in Ukraine, completed a military education in Lviv and moved to Moscow after Ukraine declared its independence.

He allegedly works for the 72nd center of Russia's special services, which specializes in analyzing information from other countries, creates fake information and is involved in organizations aimed at a Russian-speaking audience.      

Following an earlier investigation about spies within the Russian mission in Chisinau, Moldova's government deported 36 Russian diplomats from the country, with a total of 68 people leaving, along with their households, The Insider reported.    

However, the outlet believes that GRU, FSB and other Russian agents remain in the country.  

Sputnik TV is one of Russia's primary channels of disinformation.

Avatar
The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.

Read more
News Feed

In a Russian attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia on the morning of March 21, a father and mother of two girls were killed, and 6 people injured, including two girls aged 11 and 15, Fedorov said. The girls are daughters of the parents killed in the strike, Ukraine's State Emergency Service later said.

Russian citizens Yurii Korzhavin and Lidiya Korzhavina were removed from the U.S. sanctions list on March 20, along with other individuals and entities linked to Russia. The Korzhavins were sanctioned in 2024 for their ties to the Russian transport and logistics company Elfor TL.

Show More