State Department official who shut down Russia disinfo unit has Kremlin ties through Russian wife — Telegraph

The Telegraph reported the information.

According to the report, Beattie worked in the first Trump administration but was dismissed in 2018 for attending a white nationalist conference. Afterward, he became an active promoter of far-right American ideas.

Among other things, Beattie claimed that the U.S. was attempting to orchestrate “color revolutions” around the world, including in Ukraine, and praised Putin as a “brave and strong leader.”

The official is likely connected to the Kremlin through his wife, Yulia Kirillova — a Russian citizen whose uncle, Sergei Chernikov, was previously deputy governor of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug in Siberia and later served in Russia’s Civic Chamber.

According to public records, in May 2021, Beattie married Russian citizen Yulia Kirillova in the state of Florida. She moved to Washington on January 28 — about a week before her husband began working at the State Department.

At the same time, U.S. State Department officials interviewed by The Telegraph expressed doubts as to whether Beattie underwent a security clearance — a process that was reportedly loosened after Donald Trump came to power.

On social media, Beattie has repeatedly criticized the “globalist American empire,” called for handing Taiwan over to China, and described the United Kingdom as a “poor and pathetic kingdom that would be much better off under Chinese rule.”

The American also praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin online and criticized NATO. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he wrote: “Imagine how the globalist American empire will whine if Putin ‘invades’ Ukraine… I like it when our national security bureaucrats lose.”

According to The Telegraph, Beattie reportedly devoted a disproportionate amount of time to efforts to dismantle the Center for Countering Foreign Disinformation and Interference, known as R/FIMI, while simultaneously strengthening “cultural ties” with Russia. In particular, he pushed for cultural exchange programs in areas such as ballet and hockey.

It is also reported that he showed significant interest in classified materials related to Russia, raising widespread concerns about his access to sensitive information.

According to the media, R/FIMI was a relatively small agency with a budget just over $50 million, while U.S. adversaries reportedly spend tens of billions of dollars annually on foreign disinformation, The Telegraph writes. After his appointment, Beattie systematically targeted the agency, dismantling it piece by piece, and it was officially disbanded in April 2025. Senator Marco Rubio confirmed that Beattie played a key role in its closure.

According to The Telegraph, Beattie currently serves in an acting capacity, and a permanent appointment as Deputy Secretary of State would require Senate confirmation. He may serve in the acting role for no more than 210 days.