In a startling revelation, the State Department has accused RT, formerly known as Russia Today, of undergoing a transformation from a state-backed propaganda outlet to a sophisticated arm of Russian intelligence. According to the administration, RT has been secretly operating a vast military procurement network, using a large online crowdfunding platform promoted through social media, to supply Russian forces in Ukraine.

The operations of this procurement network were allegedly overseen by Anton Anisimov, the RT deputy editor-in-chief and head of international broadcasting for Sputnik. The State Department claims that RT has been able to avoid detection by importing small orders of weaponry and supplies. The list of military equipment reportedly purchased includes sniper rifles, suppressors, personal weapon sights, body armor, tactical clothing, night vision equipment, drones, radio equipment, and diesel generators.

Disturbingly, new evidence from the State Department has linked some of this equipment, particularly reconnaissance drones, directly to China-based entities. The department further alleges that RT is facilitating production in coordination with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

To further camouflage its activities, the State Department claims that RT has developed previously unknown cyber capabilities. Additionally, it has deployed a network of fake news websites, social media accounts, and online personas on a global scale to obscure its evolved mission. Since spring 2023, RT has reportedly housed a cyber unit that maintains direct ties to Russian intelligence and is used to funnel information to spies, mercenaries, and Kremlin proxies worldwide.

Furthermore, the influence operations of RT have expanded globally, with a particular focus on Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The State Department has highlighted RT's ongoing effort to destabilize the government of Argentina. Covert influence fronts, such as the online platform "African Stream" with 460,000 YouTube subscribers, and the Berlin-based English language platform "Red" with over 80,000 followers on X, have been secretly operated by RT.

The State Department has also revealed that RT was involved in influencing Moldova's October election, with editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan being accused of coordinating with the Kremlin to sway the results in favor of a pro-Russian candidate. These allegations come weeks after the Justice Department unsealed an indictment against senior employees of RT, accusing them of using shell companies and fake identities to pay millions of dollars to a Tennessee-based media outlet for creating pro-Russia content.

Margarita Simonyan, who had already been subjected to Treasury sanctions earlier in September, boasted on Russian state TV that RT runs covert operations in the United States.

As these accusations come to light, tensions between Russia and the United States may further escalate. The State Department's claims against RT present a significant challenge to the media organization's credibility and raise concerns about its alleged involvement in supporting Russian military activities in Ukraine.