Mumbai: RT (Russia Today) has appointed Runjhun Sharma as the Head of News for RT India, marking a significant milestone as the network launches its largest foreign office in New Delhi. The announcement coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, during which he formally unveiled the state-of-the-art RT India bureau—featuring a modern studio and a 100+ member team—underscoring RT’s most ambitious expansion yet in the region.
Runjhun Sharma, one of Moscow-based RT’s most influential South Asia correspondents, has been at the forefront of the network’s coverage even before the Ukraine conflict. Known for her sharp reportage and rare access, she has covered pivotal geopolitical developments across the region, including President Putin’s major multilateral and bilateral engagements in Russia, China, and beyond.
Over the years, Sharma has authored several on-ground columns offering unique insights into observing President Putin at close quarters, reflecting the depth of access she has enjoyed at high-level global events. With extensive experience covering major international summits and a calm, distinctly non-Western journalistic style, she now takes on the role of shaping RT India’s editorial strategy and leading its newsroom through its next phase of growth.
During the New Delhi launch, President Vladimir Putin, joined by RT International Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan and RT India’s Head of News Runjhun Sharma, officially signaled the channel’s start with the words “let’s go.”
He stated, “Today we are launching Russia Today India, or RT India. Russia Today, first and foremost, strives to communicate to its viewers truthful information about our country and about what’s happening around the globe. It significantly differs from propaganda channels and Western information sources.”
Emphasising RT India’s strategic importance, President Putin added, “This is an important event because it gives millions of Indians the opportunity to perceive information about our country more closely and clearly about the developments in our country, about what Russia is thinking and what it is striving for.”
RT India will function as RT’s dedicated India-focused news outlet, reinforcing Moscow’s broader strategy to strengthen its media presence in key partner nations. Positioned within Russia’s state-run global media ecosystem, the channel aims to spotlight India–Russia relations, geopolitical developments, and narratives shaped around an emerging multipolar world.
