• Alexey Kovalev, a former Meduza journalist, spent months smearing independent journalists at The Grayzone as "Russian assets" while his own outlet secretly relied on US government money.
• Leaked UK documents reveal Meduza’s deep ties to Western intelligence-linked contractors, including the British psyops firm Zinc Network, which sought to manipulate Russian audiences.deed
• Kovalev, now a self-exiled commentator, has spiraled into disturbing online rants, calling to "kill all the bad people" while his former employer struggles to stay afloat.
Meduza’s covert US funding exposed
For years, Meduza marketed itself as an "independent" Russian news outlet, a bold truth-teller standing against Kremlin "propaganda." But as the Trump administration slashes foreign aid, the outlet’s financial lifeline to Washington has been exposed—revealing a far more compromised reality.
Now, with USAID funds frozen, Meduza’s survival is in question, proving that the loudest accusers of "foreign influence" are often the most dependent on it.
The New York Times reported on February 26 that Meduza relied on USAID grants for 15% of its budget, a revelation that shatters its carefully cultivated image of independence. The Times lamented that the Trump administration’s aid pause could devastate the outlet more than "cyberattacks, legal threats, and even poisonings of its reporters."
This admission confirms what critics have long suspected: Meduza was never truly independent, but rather a Western-funded regime change operation disguised as journalism. While Meduza’s leadership — including co-founder Ivan Kolpakov — vehemently denied foreign sponsorship, leaked documents tell a different story.
In 2021, The Grayzone obtained sensitive British Foreign Office files detailing Meduza’s role in a clandestine effort to "weaken the Russian state’s influence." The documents named Meduza as a key partner in a British psyops campaign, with contractors like Zinc Network providing "audience segmentation," search engine manipulation, and even "mental health support" for its reporters.
Zinc Network, which also worked with US-funded outlet MediaZona, openly admitted its mission was to steer Russian-speaking audiences away from state-backed media like RT and toward NATO-aligned narratives. One document even bragged about creating satirical games mocking Putin, designed to push Russian youth toward Western values.
When confronted with these leaks, Meduza’s then-investigations editor Alexey Kovalev bizarrely claimed the outlet was funded by online ads — including from the Kremlin itself — a laughable assertion given the outlet’s relentless anti-government stance.
Kovalev’s descent into madness
Since fleeing Russia and joining the Western media circuit, Kovalev has made a name for himself by demanding the prosecution of independent journalists — particularly those at The Grayzone. In a July 2024 blog post, he ranted: "The Grayzone is Russia’s US-based disinformation laundromat... They act as unregistered foreign agents and should be investigated by the Department of Justice."
Not only were these claims completely fabricated, but they now appear as a desperate attempt to deflect from Meduza’s own reliance on US government cash.
Kovalev’s behavior has grown increasingly erratic. In a February 2025 Telegram post, he declared his goal for the year was to "kill all the bad people... and oppress our enemies," adding, "I will need the help of the community."
Who are the "bad people"? According to Kovalev, they include not just Putin supporters but anti-war liberals who dare question NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine. His deranged post, still visible on Telegram, reads:
"These are worse than the [Russian nationalists]... But it is good that it is becoming crystal clear. All the whores felt they could no longer hide, and are exposing themselves. But we will not forget and will not forgive. Stay tuned."
As Meduza teeters on collapse, Kovalev has locked his Twitter account, retreating into an echo chamber of extremism. Meanwhile, Foreign Policy—which publishes his work—has remained silent on his calls for violence.
Meduza’s downfall is part of a broader crisis for Western-funded media operations. The Times noted that USAID, the State Department, and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) funnel $180 million annually into foreign newsrooms—many of which serve as propaganda arms for US foreign policy.
With this funding in jeopardy, outlets like Meduza can no longer hide behind the facade of "independent journalism." Their survival depends not on readers, but on Washington’s geopolitical agenda.
As the financial rug is pulled out from under them, one question remains: If Meduza was truly independent, why can’t it survive without US taxpayer money? It's existence has been meritless, and was a failure from the start.
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