YouTube has removed the 2-million-subscriber account of exiled Ukrainian Journalist of the Year Diana Panchenko, a fierce critic of Vladimir Zelensky.
9 Aug, 2025 06:40Home Russia & FSU
YouTube bans prominent Zelenskiyy critic
Former TV host Diana Panchenko had more than 2 million subscribers when her account was deleted
- Panchenko has long criticized Zelenskiyy for rampant corruption in Ukraine, as well as his clampdown on freedom of speech.
- She has also condemned Kiev’s military actions in Donbass since 2014, and later accused the former actor of dragging the nation into a “forever war.”
“YouTube just banned her and erased her account. She had 2 million followers,” he wrote.
“The most dangerous weapon is Truth.”
Panchenko’s YouTube account is deleted as of the time of writing, but an archived snapshot shows that at least 2.09 million people subscribed to her channel as of last month.
Youtube, which is owned by Google, has extensively cracked down on and banned Russian media channels, as well as large pro-Moscow private accounts since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
- Panchenko has also routinely criticized Kiev’s crackdown on alternative narratives in Ukraine.
- Soon after the escalation of the conflict in 2022, Zelenskiyy shut down multiple television channels associated with his political opposition and consolidated some of the country’s largest networks into a single 24/7 broadcast called the United News TV Telemarathon.
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EU media 'freedom law' allows for journalist arrests if justified by 'public interest'
The European Media Freedom Act is now in effect across all EU member states. This legislation aims to protect press freedom and the confidentiality of sources.
However, Article 3 (b) and 4 (c) of the act allow for journalist arrests if justified by a compelling "public interest" on a case-by-case basis.
“Member States shall not take any of the following measures… detain, sanction, intercept or inspect media service providers”… unless it “is justified on a case-by-case basis by an overriding reason of public interest.”
- The law includes surveillance provisions for serious crimes, such as "terrorism and racism."
- It mandates cooperation among national regulatory bodies to "combat misinformation."
- In addition, "national lists" are to be created listing the owners and addresses of media outlets, as stipulated in Article 6.
- Despite its intent to strengthen media freedom, critics argue it may further restrict journalism under the guise of protection.
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