In order to counter the West's "information war" on President Vladimir Putin and Russia, the Kremlin has unveiled a lavishly funded, international media house, Sputnik, whose advent is expected to silence dissent and criticism in the state.
The media outlet has been named after the Soviet satellite that unnerved the Western nations when it became the first man-made object to leave the earth's atmosphere in 1957. Sputnik plans to open newsrooms in more than 30 capitals around the world, including Washington, Cairo and Beijing, reported The Washington Times.
It will be headed by Dmitry Kiselyov, a staunch anti-western TV anchor.
Kiselyov said that the role of the state-run media would be to "love Russia" and will provide the international audience, who are "tired of aggressive propaganda promoting a unipolar world," a different perspective.
Sputnik will replace the RIA Novosti state news agency, which was "liquidated" late last year by Putin. It will also incorporate the Voice of Russia radio station.
The launch comes just days after Kremlin administration chief Sergei Ivanov and Putin were victims of an "international smear campaign.