July 06, 2026

Sasha Meets Sanctions ​


Sasha Meets Sanctions   ​
Sanctions are catching up with a popular pro-Kremlin travel influencer.  Alexandra Jost.

Nine months ago, Alexandra "Sasha" Jost filmed herself strolling through a Kazan market, beaming as she narrated, “Sanctions in Russia? Haven’t heard of it.” But Jost is not your average blogger — she is now an EU-sanctioned travel and lifestyle creator promoting Russia in every way.

Better known as "Sasha Meets Russia," Jost travels around the country, showing audiences what she describes as the "truth" about Russia. Often, her videos look like those on a typical travel account – food reviews, interviews with locals, and picture-perfect landscapes.

Yet her other content shares her favorable thoughts on Russia’s War on Ukraine. A response to Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X claimed Ukraine will soon be part of Russia, while other videos dismiss Western countries as dangerous and violent, problems to which Russia is (naturally) immune.

Jost has significant ties to RT (Russia Today). The network’s parent company, TV-Novosti, paid her $2,000 per month in 2024. She also received financial support from the Limitless (Bezgranichnye) PR agency, which is itself funded by the Kremlin’s Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.​

On June 15, a decision by the Council of the European Union listed Jost as part of Russia’s threat to the EU's security and democratic foundations. As a blogger and influencer with pro-Kremlin messaging, Jost poses a unique threat, given her reach on nearly all major social media platforms.

Surprisingly, Sasha the Extremely Pro-Kremlin Influencer is Russian-American, and grew up in the United States. She only moved to Russia in 2023, starting her TikTok and YouTube channels shortly after. ​

Sasha’s new badge of honor comes with a list of limitations, including freezes to her assets and an EU travel ban. In response to the travel sanctions, Jost was dismissive: “It’s not like I was planning a trip there anytime soon.” While she was on the topic, Jost also attacked Kaja Kallas, the EU Foreign Affairs and Security representative, along with other EU members who, she said had nothing better to do than sanction a blogger, calling her “Kaka Kallas and her little dwarves."

Sasha continues to make her travel videos, and appears to be basking in the glow of her new sanctioned status. Ever fond of eye-catching headlines, Jost said that her cat (which has a “disgusting” European pet passport) might also show up on the next sanctions list. Sasha is doubling down on her propaganda battle: “Being sanctioned means I am on the right track… and the European Union is quite afraid of that.” 

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