Updated

The Kremlin-funded Russia Today media group has launched an international news service that it claims will fight the "propaganda" of other news media.

The service started Monday, called Sputnik, will have bureaus in more than 30 countries and send its news to local audiences by radio stations, websites and social media.

The launch underlines Russia's consistent complaints that world news media are biased against the country. In a major speech last month, President Vladimir Putin bemoaned what he called "total control of global media (that) has made it possible to when desired to portray white as black."

Russia Today chief Dmitry Kiselyov says "we are against aggressive propaganda ... this can only result in bloodshed."

Russia Today also includes the RIA-Novosti news agency and the satellite TV channel RT.