Loading signal...
Signal
Submitted
Apr 28, 2026, 14:21 UTC
Russian state-funded media operate Berlin-based left-wing activist outlets 'Redfish' and 'In the Now' to conduct information influence campaigns disguised as independent journalism.
On 2 September 2020, ARD-faktenfinder published findings detailing how Russian government-backed media finance activist-leaning outlets in Berlin, including 'Redfish' and 'In the Now.' 'Redfish' is managed by Lizzie Phelan, formerly with RT, and owned by Ruptly GmbH, linked to the Russian state media conglomerate Rossija Sewodnja. These outlets produce content promoting anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and environmental causes while avoiding transparency on their state funding. 'Redfish' alone has accrued over 11.3 million Facebook views. 'In the Now,' originating as an RT show, now managed by Maffick Media (also linked to Ruptly), has over 3.3 million Facebook likes. Maffick Media also operates other channels like 'Soapbox' and 'Back then,' with similar covert Russian state ties. The network exploits the overlay of social activism and journalism to influence public opinion and evade labeling rules on platforms like YouTube and Facebook that mark Russian government-funded media. Prior operations by such networks are known to involve sowing societal discord and supporting Kremlin narratives, notably during the 2016 US election interference. Lizzie Phelan's own statements recognize state influence on supposedly independent media, highlighting the propagandistic nature of these outlets despite claims of editorial autonomy.
Confidence: High
The article clearly documents Russian state-controlled media entities operating covert information influence campaigns from Berlin using activist-appearing channels, demonstrating hostile hybrid warfare activity.
Source URL
https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/russlands-linke-offensive-101.html
Published as a hybrid-warfare signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "d1f3c8d0-626a-4501-9a79-3272794c54f8",
"url": "https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/russlands-linke-offensive-101.html",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Cyber & Information Warfare",
"subcategory": "Information Operations",
"incident_type": "Fake NGOs / shell media outlets",
"country": "Germany",
"source_reliability": "B",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"russian influence operations",
"Disinformation",
"Information operations",
"Media manipulation",
"Ruptly",
"RT",
"Maffick Media",
"Left-wing activism",
"Berlin",
"Social media",
"Hybrid warfare"
],
"nodes": [
"Node 2: 5th Column"
],
"countries": [
"Germany"
],
"where_text": "Cyberspace",
"headline": "Russian State-Funded Media Operate 'Left-Wing' Activist Outlets in Berlin to Influence Public Opinion",
"description": "According to a 2 September 2020 report by ARD-faktenfinder, Russian state media finance Berlin-based media outlets that operate at the intersection of left-wing activism and journalism, including 'Redfish,' 'In the Now,' and Maffick Media. 'Redfish,' led by former RT journalist Lizzie Phelan, is officially owned by Ruptly GmbH, a subsidiary of the Russian state media group Rossija Sewodnja, controlled by Dimitri Kisseljow. These outlets produce content focusing on anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and environmental issues, with 'Redfish' having over 11.3 million Facebook views. 'In the Now,' initially an RT show, now has over 3.3 million Facebook likes, while Maffick Media runs multiple channels including 'Soapbox' and 'Back then,' also linked to Russian media financing. The report highlights how these outlets avoid direct disclosure of their Russian state funding and may serve to circumvent media platform labeling designed to identify government-backed content in the West. Previous investigations linked such channels to disinformation campaigns aimed at polarizing societies, such as during the 2016 US elections. Lizzie Phelan has previously criticized Western media as not free and admitted the influence of state agendas, underscoring these outlets' lack of editorial independence.",
"summary_short": "Russian state-funded media operate Berlin-based left-wing activist outlets 'Redfish' and 'In the Now' to conduct information influence campaigns disguised as independent journalism.",
"summary_extended": "On 2 September 2020, ARD-faktenfinder published findings detailing how Russian government-backed media finance activist-leaning outlets in Berlin, including 'Redfish' and 'In the Now.' 'Redfish' is managed by Lizzie Phelan, formerly with RT, and owned by Ruptly GmbH, linked to the Russian state media conglomerate Rossija Sewodnja. These outlets produce content promoting anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and environmental causes while avoiding transparency on their state funding. 'Redfish' alone has accrued over 11.3 million Facebook views. 'In the Now,' originating as an RT show, now managed by Maffick Media (also linked to Ruptly), has over 3.3 million Facebook likes. Maffick Media also operates other channels like 'Soapbox' and 'Back then,' with similar covert Russian state ties. The network exploits the overlay of social activism and journalism to influence public opinion and evade labeling rules on platforms like YouTube and Facebook that mark Russian government-funded media. Prior operations by such networks are known to involve sowing societal discord and supporting Kremlin narratives, notably during the 2016 US election interference. Lizzie Phelan's own statements recognize state influence on supposedly independent media, highlighting the propagandistic nature of these outlets despite claims of editorial autonomy.",
"actor_primary": "Rossija Sewodnja",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Berlin",
"location_region": "Berlin",
"location_coordinates_lat": 52.52,
"location_coordinates_lon": 13.405,
"location_precision": "Approximate",
"is_aggressor_signal": true,
"signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "The article clearly documents Russian state-controlled media entities operating covert information influence campaigns from Berlin using activist-appearing channels, demonstrating hostile hybrid warfare activity.",
"event_time_utc": "2020-09-02T13:01:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "exact",
"created_at": "2026-04-28T14:21:00.033Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-04T08:36:03.522Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "approximate",
"time_precision_band": "exact",
"severity_band": "moderate",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
B
Info credibility
3
Event time
Sep 2, 2020, 13:01 UTC
Event time confidence
exact
Location
Berlin
Region
Berlin
Primary actor
Rossija Sewodnja
Country
Germany
Countries
Germany
Tags
russian influence operations, Disinformation, Information operations, Media manipulation, Ruptly, RT, Maffick Media, Left-wing activism, Berlin, Social media, Hybrid warfare
Nodes
Node 2: 5th Column
Signal
Submitted
Apr 28, 2026, 14:21 UTC
Russian state-funded media operate Berlin-based left-wing activist outlets 'Redfish' and 'In the Now' to conduct information influence campaigns disguised as independent journalism.
On 2 September 2020, ARD-faktenfinder published findings detailing how Russian government-backed media finance activist-leaning outlets in Berlin, including 'Redfish' and 'In the Now.' 'Redfish' is managed by Lizzie Phelan, formerly with RT, and owned by Ruptly GmbH, linked to the Russian state media conglomerate Rossija Sewodnja. These outlets produce content promoting anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and environmental causes while avoiding transparency on their state funding. 'Redfish' alone has accrued over 11.3 million Facebook views. 'In the Now,' originating as an RT show, now managed by Maffick Media (also linked to Ruptly), has over 3.3 million Facebook likes. Maffick Media also operates other channels like 'Soapbox' and 'Back then,' with similar covert Russian state ties. The network exploits the overlay of social activism and journalism to influence public opinion and evade labeling rules on platforms like YouTube and Facebook that mark Russian government-funded media. Prior operations by such networks are known to involve sowing societal discord and supporting Kremlin narratives, notably during the 2016 US election interference. Lizzie Phelan's own statements recognize state influence on supposedly independent media, highlighting the propagandistic nature of these outlets despite claims of editorial autonomy.
Confidence: High
The article clearly documents Russian state-controlled media entities operating covert information influence campaigns from Berlin using activist-appearing channels, demonstrating hostile hybrid warfare activity.
Source URL
https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/russlands-linke-offensive-101.html
Published as a hybrid-warfare signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "d1f3c8d0-626a-4501-9a79-3272794c54f8",
"url": "https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/russlands-linke-offensive-101.html",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Cyber & Information Warfare",
"subcategory": "Information Operations",
"incident_type": "Fake NGOs / shell media outlets",
"country": "Germany",
"source_reliability": "B",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"russian influence operations",
"Disinformation",
"Information operations",
"Media manipulation",
"Ruptly",
"RT",
"Maffick Media",
"Left-wing activism",
"Berlin",
"Social media",
"Hybrid warfare"
],
"nodes": [
"Node 2: 5th Column"
],
"countries": [
"Germany"
],
"where_text": "Cyberspace",
"headline": "Russian State-Funded Media Operate 'Left-Wing' Activist Outlets in Berlin to Influence Public Opinion",
"description": "According to a 2 September 2020 report by ARD-faktenfinder, Russian state media finance Berlin-based media outlets that operate at the intersection of left-wing activism and journalism, including 'Redfish,' 'In the Now,' and Maffick Media. 'Redfish,' led by former RT journalist Lizzie Phelan, is officially owned by Ruptly GmbH, a subsidiary of the Russian state media group Rossija Sewodnja, controlled by Dimitri Kisseljow. These outlets produce content focusing on anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and environmental issues, with 'Redfish' having over 11.3 million Facebook views. 'In the Now,' initially an RT show, now has over 3.3 million Facebook likes, while Maffick Media runs multiple channels including 'Soapbox' and 'Back then,' also linked to Russian media financing. The report highlights how these outlets avoid direct disclosure of their Russian state funding and may serve to circumvent media platform labeling designed to identify government-backed content in the West. Previous investigations linked such channels to disinformation campaigns aimed at polarizing societies, such as during the 2016 US elections. Lizzie Phelan has previously criticized Western media as not free and admitted the influence of state agendas, underscoring these outlets' lack of editorial independence.",
"summary_short": "Russian state-funded media operate Berlin-based left-wing activist outlets 'Redfish' and 'In the Now' to conduct information influence campaigns disguised as independent journalism.",
"summary_extended": "On 2 September 2020, ARD-faktenfinder published findings detailing how Russian government-backed media finance activist-leaning outlets in Berlin, including 'Redfish' and 'In the Now.' 'Redfish' is managed by Lizzie Phelan, formerly with RT, and owned by Ruptly GmbH, linked to the Russian state media conglomerate Rossija Sewodnja. These outlets produce content promoting anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and environmental causes while avoiding transparency on their state funding. 'Redfish' alone has accrued over 11.3 million Facebook views. 'In the Now,' originating as an RT show, now managed by Maffick Media (also linked to Ruptly), has over 3.3 million Facebook likes. Maffick Media also operates other channels like 'Soapbox' and 'Back then,' with similar covert Russian state ties. The network exploits the overlay of social activism and journalism to influence public opinion and evade labeling rules on platforms like YouTube and Facebook that mark Russian government-funded media. Prior operations by such networks are known to involve sowing societal discord and supporting Kremlin narratives, notably during the 2016 US election interference. Lizzie Phelan's own statements recognize state influence on supposedly independent media, highlighting the propagandistic nature of these outlets despite claims of editorial autonomy.",
"actor_primary": "Rossija Sewodnja",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Berlin",
"location_region": "Berlin",
"location_coordinates_lat": 52.52,
"location_coordinates_lon": 13.405,
"location_precision": "Approximate",
"is_aggressor_signal": true,
"signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "The article clearly documents Russian state-controlled media entities operating covert information influence campaigns from Berlin using activist-appearing channels, demonstrating hostile hybrid warfare activity.",
"event_time_utc": "2020-09-02T13:01:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "exact",
"created_at": "2026-04-28T14:21:00.033Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-04T08:36:03.522Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "approximate",
"time_precision_band": "exact",
"severity_band": "moderate",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
B
Info credibility
3
Event time
Sep 2, 2020, 13:01 UTC
Event time confidence
exact
Location
Berlin
Region
Berlin
Primary actor
Rossija Sewodnja
Country
Germany
Countries
Germany
Tags
russian influence operations, Disinformation, Information operations, Media manipulation, Ruptly, RT, Maffick Media, Left-wing activism, Berlin, Social media, Hybrid warfare
Nodes
Node 2: 5th Column