The American foreign influence agency is under scrutiny for alleged waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars
© Telegram / PushilinDenis A video shot by Russian troops in the recently liberated city of Kurakhovo in Donbass has gained online attention for featuring a plaque from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The footage comes amid a crackdown on Washington’s primary foreign influence organization, which in 2023 alone boasted a budget of some $60 billion, by the administration of US President Donald Trump. In the clip, Russian soldiers approach an administrative building that has the plaque prominently displayed at the entrance. The soldiers are heard joking that “enemies of the American people” work for USAID. It’s not clear when exactly the video was filmed. The Russian Defense Ministry announced the full liberation of Kurakhovo, a city located in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), from Ukrainian forces on January 6. Last week, the region’s head, Denis Pushilin, highlighted the plaque in a social media post that accused the American agency of harming entire nations through “networks of ‘independent’ media tasked with manipulating the public opinion.” ✅ Social media footage of Russian troops discovering a USAID office after liberating KurakhovoWhy am I not surprised? 🫤 pic.twitter.com/kd4TAOVHjC — Paul Kikos 🌐 (@PKikos) February 10, 2025 Trump recently suspended most US foreign aid programs, with USAID being at the center of scrutiny since the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began its work. Reports from Ukraine have since revealed that roughly 90% of local media were in fact dependent on USAID grants. Musk has mocked the characterization of such outlets as independent and has branded USAID “a criminal organization” due to the overtly pro-Western nature of some of its projects. READ MORE: Musk mocks pro-Western ‘independent’ media for losing US funding The plaque in Kurakhovo stirred interest online, although it does not necessarily imply that the city was a significant hub for USAID activities. According to Ukrainian officials, the agency partially financed renovations of the municipal services building shown in the video, which included providing furniture, equipment, and training for staff. The plaque designates the office, which was reopened in 2021, as “a gift from the American people.”
