Top 20 Spanish-language outlets that are spreading Russian propaganda and Kremlin-friendly narratives

To analyze the data, we leveraged web analytics and search tools to identify Spanish-language pro-Russian outlets by examining content similarity, mutual citations, and referral traffic. The analysis included web analytics, keyword research, and content reviews to detect links between websites that disseminate anti-Western and pro-Russian narratives.

Spain, in contrast to the media landscape in other EU countries previously assessed, represents a different focus for Russian propaganda efforts due to Moscow's long-standing connections and the support that the Kremlin has historically provided to local communist and far-left movements. These ties distinguish Spain from countries such as Germany and France, where the far-right actors and outlets typically support pro-Kremlin narratives.

Russia also receives support from Spanish-language outlets from Latin American countries like Cuba and Venezuela, which have leftist or communist governments friendly to Russia.

The interactive infographic highlights websites with similar content: critical of the West and Ukraine but supportive of Russia. These sites share mutual citations, referral traffic, and pro-Russian narratives.

It is important to note that not all of the studied outlets share the same level of bias. We can divide these outlets into three primary categories:

• Outlets that directly repost Russian state media, such as RT, Sputnik, and others that have been sanctioned for spreading disinformation and supporting Russia's war, often replicate their reports without significant modification.
• Outlets that produce one-sided, unbalanced reports, quoting Russian sources extensively and presenting information that aligns strongly with Kremlin interests while omitting counterpoints or alternative perspectives.
• Outlets that create influence articles, which appear as analytical content on geopolitics and strategic overview but subtly promote pro-Russian narratives under the guise of analysis, however, keeping an anti-Western stance and failing to condemn Russia, without overtly resembling propaganda.

Key Spanish-language outlets in the pro-Kremlin network

Russian Spanish-language outlets

• actualidad-rt.com
• actualidad.rt.com
• esrt.online
• esrt.site

The Spanish edition of RT, the Russian state-owned media outlet, and its cloned websites, that are promoting Kremlin narratives and fake news, demonizing the West and the US, disseminating false information about Russia’s war in Ukraine, and justifying the Russian troops’ attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. RT is currently under EU sanctions for spreading disinformation and supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

• noticiaslatam.lat

A cloned Sputnik website (Spanish edition of sputnikglobe.com). Carefully disguised under the brand of ‘News from Latin America’, but having the same look and feel that Sputnik has. Sputnik is a Russian state-owned international propaganda website, which was banned in the EU for spreading disinformation after Russia started a full-scale war. Still, it remains accessible in Europe. Sputnik spreads Russian disinformation, anti-Western and anti-European narratives, demonizes the West, praises Putin, and justifies Russia's war in Ukraine. Its Spanish edition targets audiences in Spain and Latin America.

• news-front.su

Russian propaganda news website based in Crimea. It broadcasts Russian propaganda and disinformation in at least ten different languages. The Spanish edition is served at es.news-front.su. In 2021, the US Treasury described it as a "disinformation and propaganda outlet that justifies and supports Russian aggression in Ukraine."

• pravda-es.com (closed and redirected)
• spanish.news-pravda.com (latest available version where Russian Pravda in Spanish is served)

This Spanish-language Russian news website is a component of the Russian Pravda disinformation network, which primarily targets Europe. The website propagates Russian propaganda narratives, asserts that Western countries aiding Ukraine are involved in Russia's war, and engages in nuclear blackmail. It quotes Russian state and pro-Russian media, including de.sputniknews.com and RT.de. It publishes articles by pro-Russian propagandists abroad.

Argentina

• kontrainfo.com

This biased website presents itself as a center for geopolitical studies, but its articles are limited to promoting Russian interests and sharing the Kremlin's perspective. It has migrated to noticiasholisticas.com.ar, a Spanish-language, Argentina-based (Fausto Frank, founder, responsible editor, director) outlet with pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, demonizing the EU, the US, and Ukraine. Covers the Russia-Ukraine war from the Kremlin perspective.

Chile

• piensachile.com

A Chile-based Spanish-language news website which often quotes Russian foreign intelligence, Russian state propaganda media and reposts their content, including pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, demonizing the EU, the US and Ukraine, and promoting Moscow's views. Posted a fake about a partition of Ukraine planned by the West, and Ukraine’s near defeat. It accuses the West of terror but fails to condemn Russia's war and invasion.

Cuba

• 5septiembre.cu

A Spanish-language news website from Cuba that often quotes Russian state propaganda media and reposts their content, including pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, demonizing the EU, the US, and Ukraine, and promoting Moscow's views.

Colombia

• lapluma.net

The Spanish-language media outlet, which sometimes publishes opinion pieces with anti-Western and pro-Kremlin views, including those by pro-Russian author Rafael Poch, often uses graphic collages that positively portray Russia and demonize the West and the US. It refers to RT and other Russian propagandists in its articles. It shifts the blame for the war to NATO and the West, fails to condemn the Russian invasion, and has been regularly publishing predictions of Ukraine's inevitable defeat for three years.

• desdeabajo.info

The Spanish-language news website, based in Colombia, focuses on global news and frequently republishes content from Russian state propaganda. This content includes pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, which demonize the EU and the US, support Moscow's viewpoints, and assert the imminent defeat of Ukraine.

Ecuador

• confirmado.net

Ecuador-based, this Spanish-language news website serves as a press-release platform for the Russian government. It reposts Russian state propaganda media, Sputnik and RT, and statements by Russian intelligence and Russian officials. It covers world events and the Russia-Ukraine war from the Kremlin's perspective. It spreads Russian disinformation, demonizing the EU, the US, NATO, and Ukraine, and promoting Moscow's narratives.

Italy

• pressenza.com

International media in 8 languages. It spreads Russian propaganda narratives, calling Russia's war against Ukraine a "conflict" or a "war between NATO and Russia." It disseminates Russian fakes about Nazis in Ukraine and the genocide of the Donbas people. It harshly criticizes Ukraine and its leadership, demonizes the US and the West, and justifies the Russian invasion. It frequently cites Russian state media (RT) and pro-Russian websites.

Puerto-Rico

• lacasaeditora.org

The website originates from Puerto Rico and is affiliated with communists, advocating for a socialist revolution against the foreign fiscal control regime. It spreads Russian propaganda storylines regarding Ukraine, it demonizes the US, the West, and NATO, and it reposts articles from pro-Russian propagandist Andrew Korybko.

Spain

• africando.org

A Spanish-language news website (owned by NGO AFRICANDO from Cameroon registered in the Registry of Associations of the Government of the Canary Islands) targeting African audiences that disseminates pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, demonizing the EU, the US, and Ukraine, claiming that NATO threatens Russia, and promoting Moscow's views.

• buscandolaverdad.es

A Spanish-language outlet named "Searching for truth" often shares pro-Russian disinfo pieces. It often quotes Russian state propaganda media and reposts their content, including pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, demonizing the EU, the US and Ukraine, and promoting Moscow's views.

• contrainformacion.es

The same individual who oversees another biased, pro-Russian outlet, Nueva Revolución, also manages Contrainformación, a far-left, pro-Russian publication in Spain. It covers Ukraine from a communist and pro-Moscow perspective. Putin uses the spread of Russian misinformation about Nazis in Ukraine to justify the war. It is constantly anti-Western and blames NATO for the war, not Russia. However, during the war it became less anti-Ukrainian.

• ctxt.es

A leftist Spanish website primarily focuses on domestic issues, but when it comes to Ukraine, it endorses Russia's assertion of "the right to its sphere of influence," backs the accusation that NATO is responsible for "a proxy war against Russia" in Ukraine, cites Russian state propaganda, and presents Moscow's interpretation of events, including the "NATO factory" in Dnipro. The outlet publishes pro-Russian articles by Rafael Poch. 20 years of working as a correspondent in Moscow left their mark on his views.

• diario-octubre.com

A Spanish-language website with communist, anti-US, and pro-Russian views. Demonizes the West, NATO, and the EU. Glorifies Soviet dictator Stalin. The outlet frequently quotes Russian state propaganda media, in particular RT and Sputnik. The website is interlinked with insurgente.org. It repeats Moscow's fakes about the neo-Nazis in Ukraine and blames NATO and the West for the war started by Putin.

• dossiergeopolitico.com

A Spanish-language website of a "center of analytical, geopolitical, and strategic research and publications". It often quotes Russian state propaganda media and reposts their content, including pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, demonizing the EU, the US and Ukraine, and promoting Moscow's views.

• geoestrategia.es

Geoestrategia.es presents itself as a portal for the self-proclaimed Spanish Institute of Geopolitics.  It is run by former Spanish military Juan Antonio Aguilar, who also publishes with Sputnik and RT and travels to Moscow. It has recently migrated to a new domain: Geoestrategia.eu. It refers to Russia's war against Ukraine as a NATO proxy war, blaming Europe for the conflict while failing to condemn Moscow. It spreads Russian fakes about Nazis in Ukraine and conspiracy theories. It praises Russia and its Oreshnik.

• insurgente.org

A Spanish-language website with unclear location (contact info reference: San Francisco, US, and Bali, Indonesia) that demonizes the West, NATO, and the EU. Claims that Russia is invincible. This website reports articles from Russian sources and from diario-octubre.com, another biased pro-Kremlin outlet.

• lacasademitia.es

This Spanish-language news website backs Russia and China while criticizing and demonizing the West and Turkey. Promotes a new multipolar world order. It covers the war between Russia and Ukraine from the viewpoint of the Kremlin. The outlet repeats the Kremlin’s fakes about evil NATO & Atlanticism and justifies Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

• mentealternativa.com

This so-called alternative media reposts the disinformation posted by Russian intelligence. "The West's new strategy for Ukraine under Trump: NATO bets on freezing the conflict with a 'peace mission' for occupation." It spreads the pro-Kremlin narrative that an evil NATO threatens Russia, bringing the world closer to nuclear war, and Russia is simply forced to respond to the Armageddon desired by the Biden administration. The outlet also repeats the Kremlin’s fakes about Nazis in Ukraine.

• nuevarevolucion.es

An "independent" media outlet named "New Revolution", pro-BRICS and anti-Western, is sharing a fake about the West's plan to occupy Ukraine, a claim Ukraine will be defeated, NATO-EU war scenarios against Russia, and Kremlin-style propaganda claim that Europe shoots itself in the foot with sanctions against Russia.

• nuevatribuna.es

"New Tribune," a Spanish media outlet, covers domestic political and social issues in Spain and occasionally discusses the Russia-Ukraine war, incorporating some Russian narratives. These narratives include attributing blame to the West and the Russian fabrication of a 'coup d'état' in Kyiv. This media also quoted RT and Sputnik, sanctioned by the EU for spreading disinformation. It shifts the blame for the war to the West and quotes storylines used by the Kremlin as a justification for its war and invasion of Ukraine.

• rebelion.org

A Spanish-language website with communist, anti-US, and pro-Russian narratives. The outlet demonizes the West, NATO, and the EU. The website repeats Moscow's fakes about neo-Nazis in Ukraine and demilitarization as a target of the "special military operation" announced by dictator Putin. It also blames NATO and the West for the war started by Putin, spreads disinformation against the Ukrainian government, and accuses the EU of slowing down peace in Ukraine while not condemning the Russian invasion.

• tercerainformacion.es

A Spanish hard-left-biased news website that spreads Russian propaganda narratives, criticizes Ukraine and its leadership, and demonizes the West and NATO. The outlet praises Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba. It often posts declarations of Russian officials—Lavrov, Peskov, and others—without any critical analysis or balance from Ukraine's statements. It spreads the Kremlin’s fakes about US bio labs in Ukraine, the 'Kiev regime,' and that Ukraine has a dirty bomb. It claims that a Ukrainian village, captured by Russian invaders, does not belong to Ukraine, but it belongs to the so-called DPR.

Canada

• globalizacion.ca

The Spanish-language Globalizacion outlet, based in Canada, but targeting Latin America, disseminates Kremlin propaganda about Nazis and Zelenskyy's dictatorship in Ukraine. The outlet refers to Zelenskyy as a dictator and characterizes the suppression of Russian agents for treason as a dictatorship under the control of "the imperialists" in the West. It also posts conspiracy theories and writes about the confrontation between NATO and Russia, which is actually Putin's war against Ukraine. It accuses the West of prolonging the war. The media demonizes the US, NATO, and the West while ensuring a positive attitude toward Russia.

Venezuela

• aporrea.org

This news website based in Venezuela praises the Russian military and supports the Russian fake news about the Nazi regime in Ukraine. The website quotes Russian state propaganda media and reposts their content, which includes pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulations, with the aim of demonizing the West and Ukraine and promoting Moscow's views.

• avn.info.ve

Avn Info, a Venezuelan website, disseminates Russian fake news, used by the Putin regime to justify the war: the Zelensky regime's genocide against the people of Donbas. It claims that “Russia has launched a special military operation in Ukraine to protect the population from genocide by the regime headed by Zelensky and to stop the advance of NATO towards the east of the region because it represents a national security risk.”

• misionverdad.com

"Mission Truth," a Spanish-language news website based in Venezuela, supports Russia and BRICS while demonizing the West and the US. It covers the Russia-Ukraine war from a Kremlin perspective. It writes about 'Ukraine's violation of international agreements,' but fails to mention that Russia has violated international law, invading Ukraine. It writes about "aggression against Russia," "provocations against Russia," but fails to condemn Putin's war and Russian invasion. It spreads the narrative that Ukraine is facing an inevitable military defeat in the war.

• redradiove.com

Red Radio Ve, a Venezuelan radio station, reposts Russian state propaganda media, quotes declarations from Russian officials that contain blatant fake accusations against Ukraine, and supports the Kremlin's propaganda narratives. It posted Russia’s RT propaganda stories with Maria Zakharova’s and Sergey Lavrov's statements without any balance from Ukraine and condemning Russia's crimes and mentioning Ukraine's position.

Key narratives

The study identified several key narratives being promoted within the Spanish-language pro-Russian media network, including:

1. Demonizing Ukraine while amplifying the Russian narrative of a “neo-Nazi” presence.
2. Anti-Western sentiment, portraying the EU, the U.S. and NATO as imperialist forces.
3. Shifting the blame for Russia’s war against Ukraine to the EU and the US
4. Claiming Russia’s imminent victory and the defeat of Ukraine and the West.
5. Glorifying Russia as a protector and savior from harmful influences. Enhancing this narrative with the support for BRICS and China.

Portraying Ukraine as a “Nazi” genocidal and dictatorial regime and shifting blame Russia’s war to Western nations

Anti-Ukraine propaganda often uses inflammatory language and unfounded accusations to portray Ukraine as a neo-fascist and genocidal regime.

Prominent narratives include the demonization of Ukraine, where sources like aporrea.org label the Ukrainian government as a “neo-Nazi Kyiv regime.” The Venezuela-based news website praises the Russian military and supports the Russian fake news about the Nazi regime in Ukraine.

“November 21, 2024 will go down in Russian military history as the date of the first real combat deployment of the legendary and feared Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation (SMRF). For Ukraine, the warning is even more profound: Moscow made it clear that no one would "help" the neo-Nazi regime. It might be interesting for the decision-makers in kyiv to remember the slogan of the Strategic Missile Forces: “After Us, Silence.”

• https://www.aporrea.org/internacionales/a336792.html

The website unidadylucha.es is operated by the Communist Party, which has been amplifying Kremlin narratives since its historical ties with the Soviet Union. Articles on the site echo Russian disinformation about a Nazi regime in Ukraine, defend Russia's military aggression, and redirect blame to the West and NATO.

"NATO is pushing towards the abyss of nuclear war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Nazi regime in Kiev and its imperialist NATO patrons, when they make statements lately, are full of such concepts as “end of war”, “peace and justice”, “freedom and independence” or “security guarantees”. Russia has been forced to reassess its nuclear defense strategy. As if that were not enough, NATO has been further increasing the threat by supplying the Ukrainian regime with long-range missiles manufactured by the US, UK, France and Italy. The imperialist war supply to Ukraine does not stop."

• https://unidadylucha.es/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6271:la-otan-empuja-hacia-el-abismo-de-la-guerra-nuclear-en-ucrania&catid=37&Itemid=117 

"Pedro Sánchez and Bourbon receive the fascist delegate of imperialism in Ukraine. Pedro Sánchez and Bourbon receive the fascist delegate of imperialism in Ukraine. However, the denunciation of the support of the PSOE/SUMAR Government and the whitewashing of Ukrainian Nazi-fascism, as well as the other assertions, remain valid."

"NATO-man Zelensky and his NATO war against Russia on Ukrainian soil does not seem to be going well. The front is crumbling and his fundraising tour of the peninsula has been postponed."

• https://unidadylucha.es/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6045:pedro-sanchez-y-el-borbon-reciben-al-delegado-fascista-del-imperialismo-en-ucrania&catid=36&Itemid=102 

The Spanish outlet Nueva Tribuna primarily covers domestic political and social issues in Spain but occasionally addresses the Russia-Ukraine war. Its coverage often incorporates Russian narratives, including blaming the West for the conflict and perpetuating the false claim of a "coup d'état" in Kyiv. Additionally, the outlet has cited RT and Sputnik, both sanctioned by the EU for disseminating disinformation.

The article "Ukraine, the Waste of Lives and European Funds" in Nueva Tribuna exemplifies the embedding of Kremlin narratives by shifting the blame for Russia’s war in Ukraine onto Western leaders. The article asserts, "They have failed in their imperial plans, along with their leaders in the US and the European Union, and now we are in a global war with multiple fronts, which we the people pay for at the cost of our welfare, our salaries, and our taxes."

The piece perpetuates another Kremlin storyline to justify the invasion (strongly resembling the approach used by Hitler to start the war): "The Ukrainian war began in 2014 as a result of a parafascist coup d'état and a deception, the Minsk agreements, which the Europeans and Americans never intended to fulfill. That was the moment for Russia to intervene when the Russophone regions of Ukraine revolted."

The article asserts that "international law has perished in Washington." The article also fabricates claims about Spanish involvement, stating, "The best thing we should and can do is to fight the war, demand a peace treaty in Ukraine, and withdraw Spanish troops from the borders with Russia."

Furthermore, the narrative attempts to shift responsibility for the war to Europe, including Spain, while ignoring Russia’s violation of international law in initiating the war.

"The countries that are part of NATO and some others, headed and led by the United States, are already at war with Russia. An unfortunate war in which Europe has fallen by committing three sins: having contributed to provoking it, not having known how to avoid it and having been materially involved in it. You cannot win a war against a nuclear power without mutual destruction."

• https://www.nuevatribuna.es/articulo/global/historia-normandia-diad-80-anos-despues-europa-nuevo-guerra/20240608184855227713.html

Similarly, ctxt.es echoes these anti-Ukrainian sentiments by stigmatizing the Ukrainian leadership as a fascist regime. This leftist Spanish publication covers primary internal topics, but when it comes to Ukraine, it condones Russia’s claim for “the right to its sphere of influence,” which ultimately justifies its right to wage wars, supports the claim that NATO is to blame for “a proxy war against Russia” in Ukraine, quotes Russian state propaganda media, and reports Moscow’s version of the events, such as a “NATO factory” in Dnipro.

Claims of "Ukrainian aggression" and disinformation about war crimes

The Venezuelan outlet Avn Info amplifies Russian disinformation narratives used by the Kremlin to justify its war against Ukraine. It propagates the false claim of a "genocide" in Donbas, allegedly orchestrated by the Zelenskyy government. According to the website, Russia's so-called "special military operation" aims to protect the Donbas population from this fabricated genocide and to counter the eastward expansion of NATO, which it frames as a threat to Russia’s national security.

• https://avn.info.ve/rusia-denuncia-que-paises-de-occidente-pretenden-prolongar-conflicto-ucraniano/

“Russia submitted to the ICJ material alleging that Ukraine has committed genocide in Donbas. Russian side presented other additional claims related to violations of the Convention, such as: complicity in genocide, incitement to commit genocide, failure to take measures to prevent and punish genocide.”

• https://avn.info.ve/rusia-entrego-a-la-cij-pruebas-materiales-de-que-ucrania-ha-cometido-genocidio-en-el-donbas/

The misionverdad.com website is a Venezuela-based Spanish-language outlet that advocates for the Bolivarian revolution, supports Russia and BRICS, and constantly criticizes and demonizes the West and the United States. Its coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war aligns with Kremlin propaganda.

The outlet highlights alleged Ukrainian violations of international laws and agreements, omitting any acknowledgment of Russia's breach of international law, including its invasion of Ukraine and the violation of the Budapest Memorandum.

• https://misionverdad.com/globalistan/ucrania-viola-sistematicamente-todas-sus-obligaciones-internacionales 
• https://misionverdad.com/globalistan/guerra-en-ucrania-una-semana-que-conmovio-al-mundo 

Their articles discuss "aggression against Russia," "provocations against Russia," and Putin's warnings to the West but fail to condemn Russia's invasion or acknowledge its war crimes. Instead, the site accuses Ukraine and the United States of escalating the war without mentioning Russia's culpability.

• https://misionverdad.com/globalistan/ucrania-y-la-nueva-escalada-con-los-misiles-atacms
• https://misionverdad.com/globalistan/guerra-en-ucrania-una-semana-que-conmovio-al-mundo 

The Venezuelan outlet Red Radio Ve frequently republishes Russian state propaganda, amplifying false accusations and Kremlin-aligned narratives. For instance, it reposts claims from Russia's RT, such as a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, which falsely alleges that Ukraine is preparing an attack on the Kursk nuclear power plant.

“Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that Ukraine began preparations for an attack on the Kursk nuclear power plant.”

• https://redradiove.com/rusia-alerta-ante-amenaza-nuclear-de-ucrania/

Additionally, Red Radio Ve spreads Russian disinformation regarding peace talks, quoting Putin’s claims about the legitimacy of Ukraine’s leadership. Putin asserts that President Zelenskyy's mandate expired and that the current Ukrainian government is a result of an "armed coup" from 2014, echoing the Kremlin's narrative of an “illegitimate regime.”

“Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday listed conditions for starting peace negotiations with Ukraine. Putin also addressed the question of the legitimacy of the Ukrainian regime's leader, Vladimir Zelensky. “The presidential term of the previously elected head of Ukraine has expired (...) the origin of the current regime in Kiev was an armed coup”, which took place in 2014, and now ”the executive power in Ukraine is again, as in 2014, usurped and illegally retained.””

• https://redradiove.com/putin-enumero-condiciones-para-negociar-con-ucrania/

Red Radio Ve also republishes unverified and harmful narratives to demonize Ukrainians. For example, it echoes a false claim from RT that links a suspect in an attack on former U.S. President Donald Trump to Ukrainian mercenaries.

“Author of the attack on Trump is linked to Ukrainian mercenaries. According to the Russian RT channel, the person responsible for the second attack on Trump traveled to Ukraine to allegedly “recruit mercenaries for Kiev”.”

• https://redradiove.com/autor-del-atentado-a-trump-esta-ligado-a-mercenarios-ucranianos/

These Spanish-language pro-Kremlin sources consistently aim to discredit Ukraine on the global stage, fostering a perception of an oppressive and morally corrupt regime to legitimize pro-Russian interests and sow international doubts about Ukraine’s legitimacy and stability.

This concludes the first part of the study, conducted with the analysts from InsightNews, on the Spanish-language pro-Russian media network. The second part will be released soon, offering further analysis of the narratives being propagated by the pro-Kremlin outlets from the identified network linked by reciprocal citations.