Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, expressed indignation during a Security Council meeting regarding Ukrainian sanctions against the Russian animated series “Masha and the Bear”. Meanwhile, YouTube has already blocked access to the project’s channels within Ukraine.
This information became known from the broadcast of the UN Security Council meeting, as well as from a report by the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD).
During his speech, Nebenzya referred to Ukraine as a “Zelensky-named concentration camp” where a “complete ban on dissent” has been established. The Russian representative specifically complained about the restrictions on the distribution of Russian content.
“Not only the Russian language is being oppressed – everything connected with our common past is being destroyed. The Kyiv authorities are demonstrating primitive Russophobia and xenophobia,” Nebenzya stated.
The Russian representative declared that he considers the imposition of sanctions against the animated series “Masha and the Bear” – allegedly for promoting a Russian militaristic narrative – to be “ridiculous” and called it a manifestation of the authorities’ “poverty of spirit.”
He also accused Ukraine’s international partners of financing the “continuation of the war.”
The video hosting service YouTube has already restricted access to three channels of the animated series “Masha and the Bear” within Ukraine. The Russian-language, Ukrainian-language, and English-language versions of the channel have been blocked.
The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) explained that all three channels are included in the sanctions decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), which was put into effect by a decree of the President of Ukraine.
“The blocking of these channels limits the access of this content to Ukrainian children and deprives Russia of another platform for profit and hybrid influence,” the CCD emphasized.
Background
At the end of August 2025, the Ukrainian-language YouTube channel of the animated series “Masha and the Bear” ranked first among the 20 most popular children’s channels registered in Ukraine.
Olha Tyshchuk-Volzka, head of Tyshchuk Digital HUB, which focuses on developing brands on YouTube, suggested that in 2025 alone, Russians could have earned $2.4 million from Ukrainian viewers watching the animated film “Masha and the Bear,” given the total number of views exceeding 800 million during that period.
The animated series was created by the Russian studio “Animaccord.” Previously, it was broadcast on Ukrainian channels: first on “Inter,” then on “1+1,” even after 2014.
In 2017, the State Film Agency commission reviewed the legality of its broadcast, as the animation contained Russian propaganda narratives.
Oleksandr Alferov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, noted that “Masha and the Bear” influences children and instills Russian culture.
In October 2025, the National Police called for sanctions to be imposed on the animation due to its ties with Russia. The decision was also supported by the Ministry of Culture.
In June, the issue became relevant again after Netflix acquired the rights to broadcast two new seasons of the animated series and extended its distribution licensing agreement to over 100 countries.
On August 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed four decrees implementing the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine’s decisions on applying sanctions against the creators and distributors of the animated series “Masha and the Bear.”
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the President of the Russian Federation, reacted to the imposition of sanctions: “These cartoons have conquered the whole world, without exaggeration – conquered with their kindness, humanity, conquered with propaganda, in a good sense of the word, truly the best human qualities. Ukraine has started a war with cartoons too.”
The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) responded to Peskov’s statements, noting that such a vigorous and sensitive reaction is the best indicator that Ukraine is acting correctly.
Source: suspilne.media