YouTube has blocked the channels of several Ukrainian video bloggers, including Oleksiy Arestovych, Rostyslav Bondarenko, Dmytro Vasyltsya, Tetyana Kashevarova, Oleksandr Onyshchenko, Volodymyr Shelest, and Vadym Karasyov. This action is directly linked to sanctions recently imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), following a presidential decree issued by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The move aims to enforce national security measures by restricting access to content creators who have been officially sanctioned by the Ukrainian government.
According to a report from the Anti-Disinformation Center and confirmation by the Ukrainian National News Agency (UNN), these YouTube channels have been made inaccessible to users within Ukraine. The decision is part of a broader effort to counter misinformation and safeguard the country’s information space amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The specific channels that have been blocked include those of Rostyslav Bondarenko, Dmytro Vasyltsya, Anastasia Kashevarova—known for her work with DailyStorm and This is Media—and Pavlo Onyshchenko. These content creators had previously been placed on the sanctioned list by the NSDC due to concerns over their influence and activities deemed harmful to Ukraine’s security.
Earlier this week, YouTube also removed the channels of Oleksandr Shelest and Vadym Karasyov, making all of their content unavailable to Ukrainian viewers. This coordinated effort highlights the platform’s compliance with national directives aimed at limiting the spread of information from sanctioned individuals.
The sanctions against these video bloggers form part of a broader campaign by Ukrainian authorities to impose restrictions on public figures and media personalities whose activities are seen as detrimental to the country’s sovereignty and security interests. The National Security and Defense Council, acting under a decree signed by President Zelensky, has steadily expanded its list of sanctioned individuals over the past months.
To provide additional context, President Zelensky previously approved sanctions targeting high-profile figures such as former President Petro Poroshenko, oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, businessman Hennadiy Boholiubov, billionaire Kostyantyn Zhevago, and politician Viktor Medvedchuk. These measures included asset freezes and media restrictions, reflecting the government’s strategic approach to safeguarding national security amid ongoing conflict and political challenges.
The YouTube channel blockades serve as a critical component of Ukraine’s information security policy, aimed at curbing the influence of voices considered to be spreading disinformation or undermining state interests. As social media platforms play an increasingly pivotal role in shaping public opinion, the enforcement of such sanctions marks a significant step in regulating digital content within the country.
The situation remains dynamic, with further developments expected as Ukrainian authorities continue to monitor and respond to threats in the information domain. The cooperation between the government, digital platforms, and civil society organizations like the Anti-Disinformation Center illustrates the multifaceted approach Ukraine is adopting to maintain control over its media landscape.
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