Ukraine imposed sanctions on the creators and distributors of Masha and the Bear, Russia’s most popular children’s cartoon, accusing the series of spreading pro-Kremlin narratives under the guise of entertainment for children.
The measures were included in a new sanctions package signed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex, senior officials and companies Kyiv accuses of supporting Moscow’s war effort.
Five Russian citizens and four organisations involved in the production and distribution of Masha and the Bear are on the sanctions list, including Animaccord, the studio behind the series, as well as its founder and chief executive and several of the cartoon’s principal creators.
“The programme spreads pro-Russian narratives disguised as children’s content,” Zelenskyy’s office said, describing it as a threat to Ukraine’s national security.
The sanctions include asset freezes and restrictions on commercial activity and the use and distribution of copyrighted material in Ukraine, allowing access to “Masha and the Bear” to be restricted or banned on YouTube and other platforms.
