Ukraine Bans Russian Cartoon ‘Masha and the Bear’ Over Pro-Russia Propaganda Claims

Zelenskyy signs decree imposing sanctions on producers, accusing cartoon show of spreading ‘pro-Russian propaganda’.

Published On 21 Aug 202621 Aug 2026

Ukraine imposed sanctions on the producers and distributors of the ‘Masha and the Bear’ animated series, including its studio Animaccord, accusing the creators of spreading pro-Russia narratives that threaten Ukrainian national security.

“Ukraine has imposed sanctions against the producers and distributors of the Russian animated series ‘Masha and the Bear’,” Ukrainian Culture Minister, Tetyana Berezhna, said on X on Friday.

“This creates legal grounds to block the content in Ukraine and engage international platforms to restrict its monetisation and distribution,” she added.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the decree on Thursday, imposing sanctions against creators and distributors of the animated series, including its studio Animaccord.

The series on YouTube alone has exceeded 37 billion views, with some individual episodes surpassing four billion views. It is broadcast in approximately 100 countries.

The show follows a mischievous little girl named Masha and her friend, a retired circus bear.

The cartoon has faced criticism in Ukraine and its allies, including the United Kingdom and Estonia, for serving as a vehicle for Russia’s soft power.

In June, Ukraine protested Netflix’s acquisition of streaming rights for new seasons of ‘Masha and the Bear’.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, the Ukrainian YouTube channel for the series topped children’s channel rankings in August and currently has over 18 million followers.

The sanctions follow Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine since 2022.

Russian cultural products have become less prevalent in Ukraine due to boycotts and official restrictions imposed by Ukraine’s allies following the conflict.

“Russia propaganda has no place on children’s screens,” Minister Berezhna said on X.

Russia dismissed the allegations, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating the series has “conquered the world” by promoting “the finest human qualities”.

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