Journalists expose a network of channels in RF making money from videos of violence against Ukrainian soldiers

This is a network of Telegram channels that publish and monetize videos of violence against Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to journalists, dozens of such channels have appeared since the start of the full-scale invasion. They distribute materials from the front, including videos with scenes of torture and murder, and earn money from views and advertising. This is reported by the ZMINA media outlet, citing an investigation by the Latvian publication Vazhlyvi Istorii.

The journalists analyzed about fifty Telegram channels and found that most of them are run by civilians. The publications are often accompanied by hate speech and the depersonalization of Ukrainians.

Both adults and teenagers are involved in the creation and promotion of such content: some of them started at the age of 15–16 and later turned it into a way of earning money.

According to investigators, individual administrators can receive significant profits from advertising. At the same time, despite the existence of liability for the distribution of such content in russian legislation, such cases are not actually investigated.

According to the authors, the sources of the videos can be both leaks from military structures and direct access to participants in the hostilities. In some cases, there was even payment for receiving the video.

According to the UN, the russian military has executed more than a hundred Ukrainian prisoners, with most of such cases recorded over the past two years.

ZMINA adds that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have not yet publicly commented on this data.

NUJU Information Service