MOSCOW, RUSSIA - NOVEMBER 7: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the 15-th Congress of Russian Georgaphical Sochiety on November 7, 2014 in Moscow, Russia. Putin tomorrow is planning to fly to APEC Summit in China and then to G20 Summit in Australia. (Photo by Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images)

* New media outlet will operate in dozens of countries

* Putin sees media as vital to his grip on power

* Russia locked in "propaganda war" with West

By Timothy Heritage

MOSCOW, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Russia launched on Monday a state-of-the-art media organization with hundreds of journalists abroad intended to wean the world off what it called aggressive Western propaganda - dubbing it with echoes of the Cold War, Sputnik.

In a hi-tech presentation in a media center once used to host Cold War-era press conferences, one of President Vladimir Putin's favorite journalists outlined plans meant to repair the damage done to Russia's image during the crisis in Ukraine.

Although Moscow denies reverting to Soviet-style techniques, Russian media executives acknowledge privately they are waging a propaganda war with echoes of the Cold War.

"We are against the aggressive propaganda that is feeding the world," Dmitry Kiselyov, a conservative television anchor who heads the Rossiya Segodnya media outlet created by Putin last year to promote Russia's image abroad.

"We will provide an alternative interpretation of the world, of course. There is demand for this."

His remarks were a dig at the United States, which Putin accuses of trying to impose its will on the rest of the world, including during the Ukraine crisis which has left Moscow's relations with the West at their lowest ebb since the Cold War.

Widely regarded as one of Putin's chief propagandists, Kiselyov hosts a weekly current affairs program which spits venom at the West, supports Putin, portrays Ukraine as overrun by fascists and supports Russia's conduct in the crisis.

Standing on a stage in front of a huge screen showing a starry sky which gave way to television footage from around the world, Kiselyov said Sputnik would have "news hubs" in 30 cities including Washington, London, Berlin, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and the capitals of a host of former Soviet republics.

Its operations will include news wires, a radio station, an Internet site, applications for mobile phones and social media as well as press centers in some countries. Some of the hubs could have up to around 100 staff, Kiselyov said.

In an echo of Radio Moscow, the foreign-language Soviet-era station that was beamed abroad, Sputnik aims to be broadcasting in 34 countries, in 30 languages by the end of next year.

Kiselyov would not be drawn on costs, but one official suggested money was of little object.

Most Russian media outlets are loyal to Putin, and opponents get little air time, but the president regards keeping a tight grip on them as an important part of his hold on power. (Reporting By Timothy Heritage)