Ukrainians have been asked to ban Duda's YouTube channel over his interview with Gubarev

Social activist Roman Matys has called on Ukrainians to file complaints against Russian journalist Yuri Dud’s YouTube channel over an interview with one of the leaders of the “DPR” separatists. The cause for outrage was an episode of Dud’s show featuring former “people’s governor” of Donetsk Oblast Pavel Gubarev, who has repeatedly called for mass killings and the destruction of the Ukrainian people. 

The activist reported this on his Facebook page.

Matis emphasized that the blogger’s attempt to create an “expert platform” for discussing the war by giving a voice to war criminals is unacceptable and goes beyond the bounds of journalistic objectivity. He reminded that Gubarev is the initiator of anti-Ukrainian armed groups and the author of openly genocidal statements about the need to “exterminate as many Ukrainians as necessary.” The activist called on the audience to send mass complaints about the video for violating the platform’s rules regarding incitement of hostility and propaganda of violence.

Such content is actively used by the Russian Federation to legitimize the occupation regime and spread misanthropic ideas under the guise of an “alternative point of view.” Roman Matys published detailed instructions on how to file complaints so that YouTube would impose sanctions on the channel or remove the controversial episode. Social media users supported the initiative, noting that providing a platform to individuals who call for genocide directly promotes the aggressor’s terrorist ideology. Currently, the video remains available, but a wave of complaints could lead to restrictions on its views or a block within Ukraine. The public emphasizes the importance of information hygiene and countering the normalization of terrorists in the media space. As of April 9, 2026, Matys’s post had garnered a significant number of shares and comments calling for the blocking of propaganda content. The situation surrounding Dudya’s channel sparked a lively debate about the limits of free speech during wartime.

Former leader of the “DNR” group and separatist Pavel Gubarev claimed that in 2014, Russia allegedly could have captured Kyiv “without resistance.”