YouTube video hosting in Russia has been facing interruptions due to Google’s refusal to update equipment, according to reports. However, the press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, has stated that this issue is not a top priority for Russians at the moment.
Peskov mentioned that YouTube is neither completely turned off nor fully functioning – it is currently experiencing slowdowns. He advised those with technical queries about the slowdown to contact Roskomnadzor for further details and information.
He also confirmed that the topic of YouTube was discussed in a recent meeting between the President of Russia and director Karen Shakhnazarov. Peskov stated that the president will look into the situation, highlighting that part of the problem stems from the platform owner’s refusal to update necessary equipment in compliance with Russian laws.
Peskov stressed that the issues with access to YouTube are not among the top concerns for Russians at the moment. He mentioned that questions about when Russians will regain full access to YouTube should not be a major focus currently, as there are other pressing matters to address, according to the Kremlin representative.
As of November 14, access to the YouTube platform has started to improve for subscribers of Russian operators, as reported by the Globalcheck service. However, Google has stated that YouTube traffic in Russia continues to remain at the decreased level experienced since the slowdown began in August 2024.