WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has identified three online publications targeted by Russia’s intelligence services that it says are trying to undermine COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna, a State Department spokeswoman said on Sunday.
The outlets “have spread a lot of misinformation, including about Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, as well as about international organizations, military conflicts, protests and any divisive issues they can exploit,” the spokesman said.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported for the first time on Sunday about the identification of the alleged campaign. A Kremlin spokesman denied the US claim that Russia was spreading false information about vaccines to the WSJ.
The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russia approved its Sputnik V vaccine in August, before a large-scale trial began, saying it was the first country to do so for a COVID-19 blow. Studies reviewed by colleagues Monday later proved to be almost 92% effective in fighting the virus.
Pfizer, headquartered in New York and BioNTech in Germany, produced the first vaccine authorized in the United States, which was approved by regulators in December. The second, made by Massachusetts-based Moderna, was licensed later that month.
The State Department’s Global Engagement Center, set up to counter propaganda and misinformation campaigns, has identified the three outlets, the spokesman said.
News Front is controlled by the Russian federal security service, the center found. New Eastern Outlook and Oriental Review are directed and controlled by the Russian foreign intelligence service.
A fourth outlet, Rebel Inside, controlled by the Russian army, has also been named the center, but is largely dormant, the spokesman said.
“The department will continue to expose Russia’s harmful online activities,” she added. “We will also continue to work closely with our allies and partners to provide a comprehensive response to the fight against misinformation.”
Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Heather Timmons and Lincoln Feast.