Ukraine urges YouTube to block Wagner mercenary group from using their platform

Ukraine's Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Oleksandr Tkachenko, called on YouTube to block the Wagner mercenary military group on video-hosting.

Tkachenko reported on the Telegram messaging app that Russian military formations like Wagner Group are popularized through video hosting. Despite a strict editorial policy, IT giants serve the Russians as effective advertising platforms for scaling, "rejuvenating" the audience, and recruiting new mercenaries for Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine.

The Wagner Group became prominent during the 2014 Donbas War in Ukraine. Its mercenaries have reportedly participated in various conflicts worldwide, including the civil wars in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, and Mali. Wagner soldiers have committed war crimes in areas where they are deployed. The accusations include rape and robbery of civilians and torturing accused deserters.

"YouTube has always emphasized that its editorial policy involves blocking harmful content and the channels that distribute it," Minister Tkachenko said. "I appealed to the Chief Executive Officer of YouTube, LLC, Neil Mohan, with an official letter, requesting to take specific measures to monitor and stop the Wagner group's online activities."

The culture minister added Ukraine was grateful for the unbiased role that YouTube plays in covering the Russian aggression against Ukraine to this day. However, the Ukrainian government considers it unacceptable that the world's largest video-hosting company allows a transnational criminal organization officially recognized by the US, UK, and EU to advertise on its site. Tkachenko expressed confidence that YouTube would fix the situation quickly.