French radio brand NRJ to terminate its contract with Gazprom Media and stop broadcasting in occupied Donetsk after The Insider article

The French media group NRJ stated in a comment for Libération that it was “astonished to learn” from The Insider's article about its brand being used in the occupied territories of Ukraine, where a radio station bearing the NRJ label is running advertisements encouraging Ukrainians to enlist in the Russian army.

Before the full-scale war, NRJ concluded a contract with Russia's Gazprom-Media Holding, which purchased the right to use the brand. According to The Insider’s report, the 1.25 million euro contract is valid through Dec. 31, 2025.

In its response to Libération, NRJ said that the contract signed before the war “does not authorize broadcasting in Donetsk” because the territory is part of Ukraine. Moreover, the contract “strictly prohibits the posting of any political messages.”

NRJ promised to terminate the contract immediately. “The procedure has already been initiated,” the company said, adding that NRJ ceased receiving any payments under the agreement after the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the French-British company Eutelsat, one of the world's largest satellite operators, continues to cooperate with Russia. As The Insider previously reported, the company continues to broadcast Russian propaganda and ads for contract service in the Russian army. In addition, Eutelsat completely ignores the Ukrainian sanctions imposed on the NTV-Plus platform and 16 other Russian channels, despite its satellites covering Ukraine and its occupied territories.