YouTube restricted 16 more Russian channels in Ukraine: among them — versions of "Masha and the Bear"

Users in Ukraine have had access to 16 more Russian YouTube channels restricted. The list includes resources of military bloggers, artists, and foreign-language channels of the "Masha and the Bear" animated series, reported the Center for Countering Disinformation at the NSDC.

The Center announced the restrictions on November 13. According to its assessment, the affected resources spread propaganda and materials in support of Russia's war against Ukraine. The CCD's statement is cited by "Slovo i Dilo" and "Ukrainska Pravda".

The restrictions apply to access within the territory of Ukraine. There is no talk of a global removal of the "Masha and the Bear" animated series from YouTube. The new statement names its foreign-language channels, not all content of the project on the platform.

Among other resources with restricted access are the channels of Russian war correspondent Alexander Sladkov and pro-war blogger Sergei Kolyasnikov, known as Zergulio.

Also named in the list are the channels of Nadezhda Babkina, Yulia Savicheva, Victoria Dayneko, Masha Weber, and the group Uma2rman. Separately, the CCD reported the restriction of the resources "Russian SMO Glue-Ups" and "Sevastopol Correspondent".

For viewers of children's content, this is a continuation of previously imposed restrictions. In August, YouTube already blocked three "Masha and the Bear" channels in Ukraine — Russian-language, Ukrainian-language, and English-language. The current statement concerns additional foreign-language resources of the project.

The August blocks were preceded by Ukraine's sanctions against individuals and organizations associated with the creation and distribution of the animated series, including Animaccord studio. As The Kyiv Independent reminds, the Presidential Office then stated that the project spreads pro-Russian narratives under the guise of children's entertainment content.

The new block does not mean that all videos with the characters of the animated series have disappeared from search or that the restrictions automatically apply to viewers outside Ukraine. The CCD's statement concerns a specific group of channels and their availability within the country.

Based on materials from: Center for Countering Disinformation, "Slovo i Dilo", "Ukrainska Pravda", The Kyiv Independent.