Sanctions imposed on the creators of the animated series “Masha and the Bear”
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the creators of the russian animated series “Masha and the Bear.”
▫️ The relevant decision by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose restrictive measures on five individuals and four legal entities involved in the creation and distribution of the animated series was approved by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy by decree.
▫️ The sanctions target Animaccord, the studio that produced the series and owns its rights, as well as its founder and CEO, along with the director, producer, screenwriter and co-authors of the project, who pay taxes to the aggressor state’s budget.
▫️ “Masha and the Bear” is not a neutral entertainment product, but a tool of russia’s soft power and hybrid influence. The animated series promotes covert pro-russian narratives. Its particular danger lies in the fact that this propaganda targets children, who are especially vulnerable to such manipulation.
▫️ The Center for Countering Disinformation previously analyzed the propagandistic elements in the series and has consistently emphasized the need to impose restrictions on this product.
We continue working to deny russia platforms for promoting propaganda that poses a threat to Ukraine’s national security — even when that propaganda is disguised as children’s content.
