In Brussels, RSF rallies EU institutions and exiled journalists to counter Kremlin propaganda through Svoboda satellite package

The Svoboda satellite package was launched by RSF in 2024 to counter Kremlin propaganda. Today, around 15 Russian-language channels are accessible in Belarus, to 4.5 million households in Russia and to 800,000 households in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Because satellite transmissions are difficult for state authorities to block, they offer a powerful alternative to online content, which is easier to censor. Satellite transmissions can notably survive internet shutdowns.

Svoboda's growing appeal is evident in the statistics. According to a recent estimate from the Svoboda satellite package team, viewing sessions have increased by approximately 58% between April 2026 and the projected end of September 2026. What's more, the package's average viewing time is an impressive 51 minutes. A study conducted by EHESS in June 2026 estimated the Svoboda package has a total monthly audience of between 905,300 and 1,810,600 viewers - and this estimate excludes viewers in Russia and Belarus. In Russia, an estimated 6% to 9% of adults - roughly 6 to 10 million people - continue to consume independent media, according to a 2025 study by the JX Fund, a partner of RSF. The Svoboda satellite package helps grow this important audience and increases their access to reliable journalism.

The Svoboda satellite package has mainly been supported by the EU's Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), but this funding terminates at the end of October 2026. Ensuring continued financing for this major innovative project is urgent, given its critical role in the EU's efforts to counter Kremlin propaganda.

Svoboda's essential role in the EU

Alongside the official conference, Svoboda satellite's content providers - Belsat, Current Time, Radio Echo, Maxim Katz, Belarus Tomorrow, EQTV, RFI, TV8 and New Puppets - gathered for the first time in a workshop. The meeting not only showcased their expertise in developing techniques to counter Kremlin propaganda and effectively reach Russian speakers, but cemented their shared belief that the satellite package is crucial to their work, and that its funding must continue.

Between 1,500 and 1,800 Russian journalists have fled to the EU since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and over 500 news professionals have left Belarus since the crackdown in 2020, but many are financially unstable, terrorised by transnational repression and unable to reach audiences in their country of origin or the occupied Ukrainian territories. Exiled journalists are one of the best lines of defence against Russian propaganda and disinformation, and their determination is paying off. By leveraging censorship and circumvention tools - such as RSF's Svoboda satellite package and the mirror site operation Collateral Freedom - exiled Russian and Belarusian outlets are often able to reach significant portions of their original audience. The outlets supported by these initiatives - and sustainability programmes like the JX Fund - provide rare, vital insight into internal developments in Russia and Lukashenko's Belarus.

For the EU, supporting exiled journalists - especially those from Russia and Belarus - is not just a humanitarian obligation. It is a vital strategic necessity in an era of global information warfare. The EU and its member states must fully recognise their responsibility to guarantee a safe, operational haven for these journalists. It is critical for the future of democracy in Russia and the security of the entire European continent.