Ukraine has called on YouTube to block advertisements for the "Shahed" production facility in Russia
Ukraine has asked YouTube to block promotional materials linked to the sanctioned Russian center "Alabuga." This refers to a facility where, according to Ukrainian officials, teenagers are recruited to manufacture attack drones.
This is stated in a joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Kyiv emphasizes that the dissemination of such content on the video platform requires an immediate response and restrictions.
"Alabuga" was advertised on YouTube
Ukrainian authorities have documented large-scale advertising campaigns for "Alabuga Polytech" on the video platform. These were posted without proper verification and without any response from YouTube.
Meanwhile, "Alabuga Polytech" is part of the sanctioned "Alabuga" special economic zone. It is there that students—including minors—are recruited to manufacture Shahed drones.
Twitch reacted quickly—YouTube remains silent
On April 25, a Counter-Strike 2 tournament was streamed on Twitch. It was used to promote "Alabuga." However, the platform quickly blocked the accounts that streamed or advertised this tournament.
YouTube and Google have yet to respond to similar content.
"Esports and digital platforms cannot be a cover for the militarization of education, the recruitment of teenagers, and the promotion of sanctioned military enterprises," the joint statement reads.
Ukraine has imposednew sanctions against Russia.
The European Union may impose sanctions against individuals and companies suspected of facilitating the transport of grain, exported from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, to the port of Haifa (Israel).
As a reminder, the European Union has expanded sanctions against Belarus as part of a new, 20th package of restrictions targeting Russia and its allies. The decision affects Belarus’s defense sector, as well as entities that, according to the EU, support Russia’s war against Ukraine. For the first time, a Chinese organization linked to Belarusian military production has also been added to the list.
