DW vowed to continue independent reporting from Russia, maintaining coverage on the war in Ukraine and other topics despite censorship.

Russia designated Deutsche Welle (DW) as an undesired organization, signaling a deeper crackdown on press freedom and increasing censorship in the country.

The move fits broader Kremlin actions against media, NGOs, and foundations labeled as undesired, framed as censorship in response to what Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calls the information war surrounding the Ukraine invasion.

Other organizations and NGOs, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Correctiv, and Reporter ohne Grenzen, were also listed as undesired organizations in Russia.

The Russian State Duma welcomed the designation, while DW and its CEO Barbara Massing condemned it as an attempt to silence independent media and curb press freedom.

Under the designation, disseminating DW content or collaborating with it becomes a criminal offense in Russia, carrying high fines or imprisonment for individuals, including Russian nationals outside Russia.

DW now sits on a growing list of foreign organizations deemed undesired, joining numerous human rights groups.

This development signals a tightening of Russia’s media environment for foreign-funded outlets labeled as foreign agents or undesired organizations.