Docs / Methods

Media Monitoring

What we monitor

Information environment across 87 RSS feeds, 79 Telegram channels, and 65 YouTube channels. Signals are embedded as vectors, clustered by semantic similarity, and analyzed for hostile media involvement.

How clustering works

  1. Embedding — each signal (headline + content) is converted to a 3072-dimensional vector using Google’s gemini-embedding-001 model
  2. Clustering — signals with cosine similarity > 0.82 are grouped into event clusters
  3. Source analysis — each cluster is tagged with the channel categories present (hostile media, trusted, unverified)
  4. LLM summary — clusters are automatically summarized in English by an LLM

Channel categories

CategoryDescriptionDisplay
ru_stateRussian state media (RT, TASS, RIA Novosti)Red “hostile” tag
ru_proxyPro-Kremlin channels (Рыбарь, Readovka, etc.)Red “hostile” tag
trustedVerified independent media (ERR, BNS, LSM, Kyiv Independent)Green “trusted” tag
unverified_anonymousAnonymous channels with no editorial oversightGray tag
unverified_commentatorNamed individuals but not institutional journalismGray tag

Regional vs Global

RSS feeds (87)

Counter-disinformation (7)

FeedTierURL
PropastopT1propastop.org
EUvsDisinfoT1euvsdisinfo.eu
BellingcatT1bellingcat.com
DiplomaatiaT1diplomaatia.ee
Disinfo.euT1disinfo.eu
ICDS EstoniaT1icds.ee
CEPAT1cepa.org

Government (8)

FeedTierRegion
CERT-EE / RIAT1Estonia
Estonian MODT2Estonia
Finnish MODT1Finland
Finnish Border GuardT1Finland
Polish MODT1Poland
Latvian MODT1Latvia
Lithuanian MODT1Lithuania
LV PortalsT2Latvia

Estonian media (9)

FeedTierLanguage
ERR News (EN)T1English
ERR RUST1Russian
ERR MajandusT2Estonian
Postimees (EN)T1English
Postimees (ET)T1Estonian
Postimees RUST2Russian
Narva LehtT1Russian
Eesti PäevalehtT2Estonian
ÕhtulehtT2Estonian

Baltic media (14)

FeedTierCountry
LSM (EN)T1Latvia
LSM (LV)T1Latvia
LSM RUST2Latvia
Delfi LatviaT2Latvia
Delfi Latvia RUST1Latvia
Diena.lvT1Latvia
Apollo.lvT2Latvia
TVNETT2Latvia
LRT (EN)T1Lithuania
Delfi LithuaniaT1Lithuania
Delfi LT RUST2Lithuania
15min (LT)T1Lithuania
BNN (Baltic)T2Regional
The Baltic TimesT1Regional

Finnish media (3)

FeedTierLanguage
YLE News (EN)T1English
YLE UutisetT1Finnish
Helsingin Sanomat (EN)T1English

Polish media (2)

FeedTier
TVN24 (EN)T1
Notes from PolandT1

Russian-language Estonian media (5)

FeedTierNotes
МК-ЭстонияT1Russian-language Estonian outlet
Tribuna.eeT1Russian-language Estonian outlet
Stolitsa.eeT1Russian-language Estonian outlet
Gazeta.eeT2Russian-language Estonian outlet
Kauno DienaT2Lithuanian regional

Defense & OSINT (14)

FeedTier
CSIST2
Nordic Defence ReviewT2
Defence BlogT2
Breaking DefenseT2
Jamestown FoundationT1
Atlantic CouncilT2
ECFRT2
European Security & DefenceT2
Defense NewsT2
FPRIT2
Recorded FutureT2
War on the RocksT2
PISM (Polish Institute)T1
OSW (Centre for Eastern Studies)T1

Ukrainian media (2)

FeedTier
UkrinformT2
Ukrayinska Pravda (EN)T2

Russian state media (7)

FeedTierNotes
TASSRU_STATEState news agency
RT RussianRU_STATEState propaganda outlet
KommersantRU_STATEState-aligned
InterfaxRU_STATEState-aligned wire service
RIA NovostiT1State news agency
Lenta.ruT1State-aligned
RegnumT2State-aligned

Russian independent media (6)

FeedTier
MeduzaT2
Moscow TimesT2
Verstka MediaT2
MediazonaT1
Nastoyashchee Vremya (RFE/RL)T1
Holod MediaT2

Pro-Kremlin outlets (4)

FeedTierNotes
Baltnews EstoniaT1Anti-Baltic propaganda
Baltnews LithuaniaT1Anti-Baltic propaganda
Baltnews LatviaT1Anti-Baltic propaganda
RuBalticRU_STATEPro-Kremlin Baltic affairs

Other (1)

FeedTier
ObjektiivT3

Telegram channels (79)

Collection frequency: every 2 hours.

Trusted (15)

Institutional media with editorial oversight.

ChannelLanguageNotes
Українська правдаUkrainianFounded by Gongadze, institutional journalism
Суспільне НовиниUkrainianUkrainian public broadcaster
DeepStateUkrainianFrontline mapping, data-driven, cited by ISW
WarTranslatedEnglishVerified translations of RU/UA sources
МілітарнийUkrainianDefense news outlet, editorial team
СправдіUkrainianUkrainian Center for Countering Disinformation
Kyiv IndependentEnglishIndependent newsroom, international awards
ТСНUkrainian1+1 media group TV news
Повітряні Сили ЗС УкраїниUkrainianOfficial Ukrainian Air Force channel
УкрінформUkrainianUkrainian state news agency
24 КаналUkrainianMajor UA TV news channel
ГромадськеUkrainianIndependent media, editorial board
Bihus.InfoUkrainianInvestigative journalism, anti-corruption
ЕспресоUkrainianIndependent Ukrainian TV channel
Телеканал ПрямийUkrainianFormer Poroshenko media, now independent

Russian state media (6)

Official Kremlin information channels.

ChannelNotes
РИА Новости#1 referenced RU channel per conflictmisinfo.org
RT на русскомRT official channel
Пул Первого#2 referenced RU channel, Kremlin pool
Соловьёв LIVESoloviev propaganda machine
ТАССState news agency
ТаборскийPro-Kremlin Baltic affairs commentator

Pro-Kremlin proxy channels (25)

Channels promoting Russian narratives, some with documented state links.

ChannelNotes
ReadovkaTop-10 referenced RU channel
РыбарьTop-10 referenced, mapping + narrative ops
Два майораRising in rankings (2024–2025)
ВоеначальникAlliance for Securing Democracy list
WarGonzoEmbedded with RU forces
Полковник Кассад (Boris Rozhin)Top-10 milblogger
Юрій ПодолякаLinked to InfoDefense network in 30+ languages
Старше ЭддиRU war correspondent channel
Archangel of Special Forces ZAlliance for Securing Democracy list
Operation Z / Военкоры#1 on ASD milblogger table
Война с фейкамиPseudo fact-checking channel
SHOTAlliance for Securing Democracy list
Котснюз (Alexander Kots)Komsomolskaya Pravda war reporter
ЛегітимнийPro-Russian channel posing as Ukrainian insider
Анатолій ШарійEU-sanctioned, 46% audience from Russia
#МОНТЯН!Promotes Russian propaganda slogans
Шейх Тамір57% views from Russia
Дмитрій ВасілецьAccused of supporting Russia
Начальник ШтабуLinked to Russian military intelligence
РозвідникPseudo-Ukrainian, linked to RU intelligence ops
Балтика — нашаAnti-Baltic propaganda channel
InfoDefense ENGPart of Podolyaka’s InfoDefense network
InfoDefense POLANDPart of InfoDefense, Polish-language
InfoDefense SERBIAPart of InfoDefense, Serbian-language
InfoDefense DEUTSCHPart of InfoDefense, German-language

Unverified anonymous (15)

Anonymous channels with no editorial oversight. High subscriber counts but no accountability.

ChannelSubscribersNotes
Труха⚡️Україна~3MAnonymous, IMI-flagged for fake news
Україна OnlineLargeNews aggregator, clickbait
Україна ЗаразMediumAnonymous aggregator
Оперативний ЗСУLargeMilitary-adjacent, unverified
Резидент UALargeAnonymous “insider” channel
ДС | ЗрадаMediumDoom content, negative framing
Лачен пише855KRFE/RL flagged for sensationalism
Інсайдер UAMediumAnonymous insider format
БанковаMediumClaims presidential admin sources
Real WarLargeRSF lists among top anonymous UA channels
БЕЗ ФІЛЬТРІВ565KAnonymous news aggregator
НЕВІДОМИЙ553KAnonymous
Україна⚡️Новини⚡️Війна575KAnonymous news+war aggregator
XUA-фотовойны233KWar photos, anonymous
Україна Online: Новини1.47MAnonymous news aggregator

Unverified commentators (18)

Named individuals, not institutional journalism. Mix of credible and sensationalist.

ChannelNotes
УНІАНNews agency but sensationalist framing
Сергій СтерненкоActivist-blogger, not a journalist
Євген КарасьActivist, National Corps adjacent
Бутусов ПлюсMilitary journalist, sensationalist streak
Олексій ШевцовDetector Media top-100
Дмитро ГордонClickbait titles, top-5 UA channel
Правда ГеращенкоMixes official info with emotional framing
NEXTA LiveBelarusian opposition, 3.1M subs
Знай.юаFacebook removed for fake news (2019)
Politeka OnlineFacebook removed for fake news (2019)
Цензор.НЕТButusov’s outlet, mix of journalism and sensationalism
Андрій СмолійFabricated timeline claims in Bild map case
ЦАПЛІЄНКО1+1 journalist, dramatic framing
Борислав БерезаEx-MP, engagement farming
5 каналFabricated claims in Bild map case
Віталій ПортниківOpinion leader, narrative seeder
Аркадій БабченкоTallinn-based, hype hunter
Estonian Military NewsSmall Baltic defense community channel

YouTube channels (65)

Collection frequency: every 6 hours.

Trusted (12)

ChannelLanguageNotes
PerunEnglishAustralian defense analyst, data-driven, cited by defense community
Anders Puck NielsenEnglishDanish Royal Defence College researcher
Ryan McBethEnglishUS defense industry, debunks disinfo
Task & PurposeEnglishEstablished US military news outlet
24 КаналUkrainianMajor UA TV, 4.87M subs
ТСНUkrainian1+1 media TV news
Еспресо TVUkrainianIndependent UA TV
Телеканал ПрямийUkrainianIndependent UA TV
BIHUS InfoUkrainianInvestigative journalism
Факти ICTVUkrainianStarlight Media group
Kyiv IndependentEnglishIndependent newsroom
Army TVUkrainianOfficial military channel

Pro-Kremlin proxy (10)

ChannelLanguageNotes
Redacted (Clayton Morris)EnglishPromotes conspiracy theories aligned with Russian perspective
The New Atlas (Brian Berletic)EnglishVoxUkraine network analysis, “conspiracy blogger”
The DuranEnglishCo-owned by RT host Peter Lavelle
Scott RitterEnglishFrequent RT guest
Douglas MacgregorEnglishConsistent Kremlin-aligned predictions
Danny HaiphongEnglishRT actively circulates translated excerpts
Анатолій ШарійRussianEU-sanctioned
Юрій ПодолякаRussianMost popular RU military blogger on YouTube
Пивоваров (Редакція)RussianSoft power propaganda, investigative framing
вДудьRussianNormalizing Kremlin-adjacent narratives

Unverified commentators (23)

ChannelLanguageNotes
Айдер МуждабаєвRussianAlarmist predictions
Аркадій БабченкоRussianStaged-death controversy, dramatic content
Віталій ПортніковRussianStrong anti-RU commentary
Олексій АрестовичRussianEx-Zelensky advisor, fired for spreading false info
Марк ФейгінRussianFrequent Arestovych collaborator
Дмитро ГордонRussianMassive interview channel, clickbait
Юрій РоманенкоUkrainianPolitical analyst
Сергій ФурсаUkrainianInvestment banker, economic commentary
Ілля ПономарьовRussianRussian opposition MP in exile
Максим КацRussianRussian opposition blogger
Юлія ЛатинінаRussianJournalist, Novaya Gazeta background
Юрій БутусовUkrainianMilitary journalist
Володимир ЗолкінUkrainianPOW interviews
Сергій СтерненкоUkrainianActivist-blogger
Олексій ГончаренкоUkrainianUkrainian MP
Роман ЦимбалюкRussianAnalyses Russian propaganda
Олег ЖдановUkrainianMost popular UA military expert on YouTube
Роман СвітанUkrainianPredictions “mostly wrong” (Babel)
Олексій ДурнєвUkrainianBlogger turned war commentator
Андрій ЦаплієнкоUkrainianWar correspondent
Раміна ЕсхакзайUkrainianGrowing audience
Дмитро КомаровUkrainianTravel blogger turned war reporter
Іван ЯковінаUkrainianPolitical commentator

Unverified independent (12)

ChannelLanguageNotes
Denys DavydovEnglishCitizen journalist, pro-UA
Reporting from UkraineEnglishAnimated maps, daily updates
Military Summary ChannelEnglishBelarusian, pro-Russian mapping
Speak the TruthEnglishPro-UA commentary
Good Times Bad TimesEnglishGeopolitics explainer
Weeb UnionEnglishAnimated war explainer maps
Operator StarskyEnglishUkrainian soldier, frontline perspective
Jake BroeEnglishUS Air Force veteran
SuchomimusEnglishDetailed mapping, daily updates
Ukraine War AwarenessEnglishTranslates raw footage
Ukrainian WitnessEnglishWar documentation
Anna from UkraineEnglishPersonal wartime insights

Unverified media (8)

ChannelLanguageNotes
NEXTA LiveRussian3.1M subs, Belarusian opposition
PTV UAUkrainian1.1M subs
УНІАНUkrainian4.87M subs, sensationalist
В гостях у ГордонаRussian4.47M subs, interview channel
Politeka OnlineUkrainianRemoved from Facebook for fake news
Цензор.НЕТUkrainianMix of journalism and sensationalism
Ми - УкраїнаUkrainian
UATV EnglishEnglishUkrainian state international broadcaster

Limitations