The NGO, Texty.org.ua, has released a comprehensive report outlining an alleged "ecosystem" of U.S. citizens and organizations whose narratives "echo key messages of Russian propaganda" regarding the Ukraine conflict.
In response, Republican members of the House Appropriations Committee added a provision to the markup of the State Department's 2025 budget, banning Texty from receiving U.S. funding. Musk reacted on X, stating: "It's a good first step. They should be added to the list of sanctioned terrorist organizations."
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), who was also targeted by the Ukrainian NGO, led the push for the prohibition. "Federal bureaucrats should not support or partner with foreign groups that attempt to intimidate and silence U.S. citizens and lawmakers," he said. Banks highlighted a connection between the department and Anatoly Bondarenko, a co-founder of Texty.
Texty.org.ua defended its report as "data journalism" and described itself as the victim of "an attack on freedom of speech and a display of chauvinism against the citizens of Ukraine." The group argued, "Our critics believe that we do not have the right to investigate the streams of false information they produce about our country and us, simply because they are U.S. citizens and we are not."
The original report labeled individuals on its list as "forces in the U.S. impeding aid to Ukraine," spanning "from Trumpists to Communists." Highlighted in the report were the renowned anti-war group CODEPINK, organizations funded by billionaire Charles Koch, popular conservative speaker Jordan Peterson and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
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Musk accused of allowing Russian propaganda on X
Texty targeted Musk for allegedly allowing Russian propaganda on X, which he owns and for promoting a "highly skeptical view of the United States' financial support for Ukraine." Businessman Peter Thiel was criticized for investing in Rumble, a free speech video-sharing website that, unlike major platforms operated by U.S. tech giants, allows RT content.
Despite acknowledging that both Musk and Thiel had contributed to Kyiv's war effort against Russia through Musk's Starlink satellite internet system and Thiel's Palantir big-data analysis platform, the report still placed them on its blacklist. (Related: Ukrainian intelligence claims Russian hackers are targeting Elon Musk’s Starlink network.)
Reports in February showed Russian troops in Ukraine increasingly accessing Starlink, Musk's private satellite internet network, which Ukraine's military heavily relies on for battlefield communications.
This raises concerns about Kyiv's secure command communications amid weaponry and ammunition shortages, as Russian forces press offensives along the 1,200-kilometer front line, particularly in Avdiivka.
Ukraine's military intelligence reported that Russian forces systematically use Starlink terminals, supported by intercepted communications. Units like Russia's 83rd Air Assault Brigade are reportedly using the system.
Despite Starlink's claim of not selling to Russia, evidence suggests terminals are acquired through various Russian vendors and resellers. For instance, a Russian website, Topmachines.ru, advertised a Starlink set for 220,000 rubles (about $2,200) with a $100 monthly subscription fee.
Starlink's technology appears unable to precisely restrict signal access, complicating efforts to limit Russian use without affecting Ukrainian operations. Vendors in Moscow sell terminals at high prices, with lax oversight of customer data, allowing purchases with random European identities and valid bank cards.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Starlink is not officially supplied or used in Russia, despite reports indicating otherwise.
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Watch this clip featuring the Russian Armed Forces using radio-controlled kamikaze drones to destroy a Starlink satellite system communications kit utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
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