The government has handed the BBC World Service an emergency funding package worth £4.1 million following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian president Vladimir Putin's decision to launch a war in an attempt to recapture Ukraine is being misreported as a humanitarian effort by the tightly-controlled state media in Russia, while broadcasters such as the BBC are being shut out.
The BBC World Service operations cover TV, radio and online - and the new government funding will enable it to increase its Russian and Ukrainian-language coverage, as well as relocate reporters to safe locations.
James Cleverly, the minister for Europe and North America, said: "Britain is calling out Putin's lies and exposing his propaganda and fake news.
"This new funding will help strengthen the BBC's impartial voice in Russia and Ukraine, which is critical to counter Russian disinformation and will help ensure we win the battle for the airwaves."
BBC director-general Tim Davie added: "The BBC has seen a big demand for clear, fact-based, impartial journalism to counter disinformation and our teams are working around the clock to bring people the very best independent journalism.
"This funding will also help us with the immediate need to support staff who have been displaced, many of whom are continuing to work and provide vital expertise to the whole of the BBC, while life changes dramatically around them. We pay tribute to their incredible strength and professionalism."
Before the BBC's services were blocked in Russia at the start of March, the audience for the BBC's Russian language digital platforms reached a record audience of almost 17m people.
Neil Wilkes
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