The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has triggered a wave of recrimination from Russian officials, who are blaming Ukraine supporters and the political left for the shooting. The incident, which occurred at Utah Valley University on September 19, 2025, is currently under investigation by the FBI, which is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was quick to weigh in on the shooting, linking it to supporters of Kyiv. Kirill Dmitriev, a key Kremlin negotiator during the Trump administration regarding Ukraine, reposted a video purporting to show leftists celebrating the attack. These statements, reported by Newsweek, come amidst an ongoing Russian campaign to exploit divisions within the United States, particularly concerning support for Ukraine.
Researchers at NewsGuard have documented a significant surge in propaganda originating from Russian, Chinese and Iranian state media following Kirk’s death. Between September 10th and September 17th, these outlets mentioned Kirk a combined 6,200 times, according to NBC News. The narratives pushed by these sources allege potential U.S. Civil war, “deep state” conspiracies, and portray the United States as an unstable nation in decline. Chinese state media specifically highlighted instances of political disorder and gun violence within the U.S., whereas Iranian media disseminated unsubstantiated claims of Israeli involvement through its Mossad intelligence agency.
The exploitation of the Kirk shooting is not an isolated incident. In 2020, Russian agents reportedly attempted to assassinate a CIA informant in Miami, a move that contributed to a deterioration in U.S.-Russia relations. The target, Aleksandr Poteyev, was a former Russian agent who defected to the U.S., leading to the exposure of numerous Russian spies operating within the country. The operation involved surveillance and an alleged attempt to coerce a Mexican scientist into assisting with the plot, as detailed in a report by The Independent.
This pattern of attempting to exacerbate existing tensions within the U.S. Follows a similar response after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Following that incident, Russia, China, and Iran also reacted by amplifying narratives critical of the United States, according to CBS News. The current situation with Kirk’s assassination appears to be a continuation of these efforts to sow discord and undermine American stability.
As of February 25, 2026, the FBI investigation into Kirk’s murder remains ongoing. No motive has been confirmed, and no arrests have been made. The Kremlin has not issued any further statements beyond the initial comments from Medvedev and Dmitriev. The U.S. State Department has not publicly responded to the Russian officials’ accusations.
