Ukraine imposes sanctions on Russians linked to Masha and the Bear cartoon

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on 20 August imposing sanctions on Russian individuals and organisations involved in creating the Masha and the Bear cartoon series, which promotes Russian narratives.

Source: Office of the President of Ukraine; presidential decree

Quote: "Sanctions have been imposed on five Russian individuals and four organisations involved in the creation and distribution of the animated series Masha and the Bear, which promotes pro-Russian narratives disguised as children's content and poses a threat to Ukraine's national security."

Details: The sanctions target Animaccord, the studio behind the animated series, as well as its founder and CEO, the scriptwriter, director and producer, a co-creator of the series who pays funds into the Russian budget and the owner of the cartoon's rights.

Background:

• In August 2025, the Masha and the Bear channel topped the ranking of the most popular children's YouTube channels among Ukrainians.
• In October 2025, the National Police of Ukraine confirmed that the cartoon had links to Russia and called for sanctions to be imposed against it.
• In 2017, a Ukrainian State Film Agency commission considered a request to ban the cartoon over the presence of Russian propaganda narratives.
• In one episode, the main character appeared wearing a hat associated with the NKVD, one of the Soviet Union's security agencies whose personnel were involved, among other things, in suppressing anti-Soviet liberation movements.

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