Kiev moves to block Russian music on streaming platforms

(MENAFN) Ukraine is working on measures to block Russian music from appearing on international streaming services within its borders and to prevent Russian performers from ranking in domestic popularity charts, according to officials overseeing sanctions policy.

Sanctions Commissioner Vladislav Vlasiuk explained that Kiev is developing “new solutions” to ensure that artists labeled as Russian “propagandists” are excluded from platforms such as Spotify and YouTube Music. He noted that more than 100 performers have already been blacklisted, with plans to expand the list further.

Vlasiuk added that authorities will attempt to persuade streaming companies to make this content inaccessible in Ukraine.

The push is also backed by the country’s music industry. Aleksandr Sanchenko, head of the All-Ukrainian Association of Music Events, said in December that officials were exploring mechanisms for a near-total ban on Russian performers. While banning all Russian-language artists was considered, the idea was rejected to avoid hindering Ukraine’s integration with Europe.

Sanchenko revealed that his group has launched an open form to compile names of Russian artists for possible sanctions and is discussing the creation of “white lists” for pro-Ukraine Russian performers, though none have been added yet.

Since 2014, Ukraine has steadily tightened restrictions on Russian cultural products, a trend that accelerated after the 2022 escalation of conflict with Moscow. These measures have extended to books, films, and music in public spaces and online, with officials arguing that Russian-linked cultural content poses a threat to national security and identity.

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