Popular Cartoon Series: Ukraine Bans "Masha and the Bear"
The Ukrainian government has banned the popular Russian animated series "Masha and the Bear." It may no longer be shown in the country. The background to this decision is the advertising revenue generated by the series that benefits Russia.
Ukrainians are no longer permitted to watch the internationally known Russian animated series "Masha and the Bear" in their country. The government imposed sanctions on the filmmakers and declared the cartoons a threat to national security.
"In 2025 alone, the Ukrainian-language YouTube channel of 'Masha and the Bear' had over 800 million views," Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna wrote on Facebook. There is now a legal basis to block the films in Ukraine. "There is no place for Russian propaganda on children's screens. Neither in Ukraine nor in the world!" she wrote.
Popular among Ukrainian children
The background is a journalistic study from last year. According to it, the Ukrainian-language YouTube channel of the Russian cartoon was by far the most popular in 2025 in the country that has been attacked by Russia. No information was provided regarding the Russian-language version.
According to the authors, the channel generates advertising revenue for its creators, which in turn is used to pay taxes in Russia. The money benefits the Russian army in its fight against Ukraine. Streaming platforms such as YouTube can also restrict access to content for users from individual countries in order to comply with legal requirements.
Series was also broadcast in Germany
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's war of aggression for four and a half years. To Moscow's displeasure, the country is taking action not only against the widespread use of the Russian language, but also against the culture of its neighboring country. The main characters of the cartoons are the little girl Masha in traditional Russian clothing and a former circus bear who communicates only through gestures and sounds.
The series has been in production since 2009 and has been broadcast in dozens of countries, including Germany. The content also drew criticism in the United Kingdom and Estonia, as Masha appears in several episodes wearing military clothing and Soviet symbols.
Kremlin: Propaganda "in the good sense"
The Russian government criticized Ukraine's move. "The fact that Ukraine has now started a war even against cartoons once again demonstrates the abhorrence of the Kyiv regime," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies. The cartoon heroes had conquered the entire world "with their kindness." It was propaganda "in the good sense of the word."
The sanctions were initially imposed for ten years. Kyiv called on its allies to also take measures against the distribution of the animated films. As recently as June, the American streaming service Netflix had acquired the rights to additional seasons of the children's series.
