Can You Still Access YouTube in Russia?

Yes, virtual private networks like NordVPN can help you access YouTube in Russia. A VPN can change your virtual location to another country and help you access YouTube as though you were physically in that country.

Why Is YouTube Not Working in Russia?

YouTube isn’t working in Russia because the government has begun throttling the platform and making it unavailable. The government cites the platform’s anti-Russian policy as one of the reasons.

What Does Russia Use Instead of YouTube?

The Russian government is pushing VK Video and Rutube as alternatives to YouTube. Another option is Platforma, which is essentially a clone of YouTube.

How to Watch YouTube in Russia in 2025 With a VPN

If you’re looking for a way to access YouTube in Russia, you’re in the right place. We’ll show you a step-by-step guide on how to access YouTube using a VPN in Russia. You’ll also learn about the best VPNs for Russia.

Written by Wisdom Sablah (Writer)

Reviewed by Aleksander Hougen (Co-Chief Editor)

Facts checked by Simona Ivanovski (Fact-Checker, Formatter)

Last Updated: 13 Mar'25

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Key Takeaways: How to Watch YouTube in Russia

Subscribe, download and install a secure VPN service, like NordVPN.
Open the VPN app and connect to a server outside Russia.
Access YouTube and start watching your favorite channels.

Best VPNs to Watch YouTube in Russia:

NordVPN — Fast and secure VPN that can unblock YouTube in Russia. NordVPN’s two-year plan offers 72% off on the first two years with three months free.
Surfshark — Affordable and secure VPN for Russia. New Surfshark subscribers get up to 66% (plus 3 months free) reduced rates on long-term commitments.
ExpressVPN — Secure and beginner-friendly VPN for Russia. Explore ExpressVPN’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 25% discount.

Facts & Expert Analysis: Russia Bans YouTube

YouTube speeds throttled: Russia’s state-owned telecom company said YouTube would slow notably due to technical problems resulting from Google removing equipment from Russia.¹ However, in July 2024, Russian authorities admitted to throttling YouTube speeds by as much as 70%, citing YouTube’s “anti-Russia” policy. The move was part of Russia’s efforts to control the internet.²
YouTube fully banned: In August 2024, thousands of YouTube users in Russia reported that they could not access the service. It seems the Kremlin has begun blocking YouTube, which has been in the works for a while.³
Why Russia blocked YouTube: Russia has blocked YouTube as part of its efforts to crack down on Western media, including news sites and social media. YouTube has been living on borrowed time, being one of the last few open media-sharing platforms in Russia.

Best VPN for Accessing YouTube

The Russian government has throttled and blocked YouTube in the country. This means either that you won’t be able to access YouTube in Russia or that your videos may take forever to play. Fortunately, a virtual private network (VPN) is an excellent workaround. In this guide, we’ll show you how to watch YouTube in Russia using any of the best VPNs.

Over the years, the Kremlin has blocked many news sites and social media, including the BBC, WhatsApp and Snapchat. YouTube was one of the last standing Western media sites. However, the Russian government has started making YouTube inaccessible. This article will walk you through how to use a VPN to access YouTube and which VPNs are best for this purpose. NordVPN is our top VPN recommendation for the job.

Meet the experts

Wisdom Sablah (Writer)

Wisdom Sablah is a VPN expert with a rich background in evaluating virtual private networks, emphasizing online privacy and internet security. His comprehensive knowledge in encryption and cybersecurity has been showcased in numerous VPN reviews and comparison guides. Apart from his work at Cloudwards, he has contributed to prominent platforms like TechRadar and VPN Overview, focusing on aspects such as secure browsing, anonymity online, and geo-restriction circumvention. Wisdom holds a BSc. in Mathematics and a certification in Content Marketing, equipping him with the analytical skills to assess VPN-related matters like remote access, IP masking, bandwidth throttling prevention and Wi-Fi security.

More about Wisdom Sablah

Aleksander Hougen (Co-Chief Editor)

Aleksander Hougen, the co-chief editor at Cloudwards, is an expert in the realm of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), with a strong foundation in cybersecurity and encryption. With a degree in Software Engineering, his work focuses on enhancing online privacy and internet security through insightful content. Aleksander’s extensive knowledge in data protection and network security is reflected in his writings on anonymous browsing, IP masking, and overcoming geo-restrictions. He excels in explaining the benefits of secure connections, digital security and firewalls, making complex technical concepts accessible to his audience. With a background in computer science, he also addresses secure browsing and internet censorship, and advocates for internet freedom.

More about Aleksander Hougen

Learn more about our editorial team and our research process.

03/13/2025 Facts checked

We’ve added new information on Russia’s surveillance and censorship capabilities, as well as updating our NordVPN snapshot.
updates

How to Unblock YouTube in Russia

You need to download and install a VPN to access YouTube in Russia. Many VPN services have disappeared from Russia’s Apple App Store due to government pressure, making it increasingly difficult for iOS users to download these tools. For Android users, who make up approximately 95% of smartphone users in Russia, downloading VPN apps might be easier as the Google Play Store currently faces less severe restrictions than Apple’s App Store.

Below is a step-by-step guide you can easily follow to set up a VPN to use in Russia. We’ll use NordVPN — the best VPN for Russia — as an example, but you can follow similar steps for any other VPN.

Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions

Download and Install a VPN
Go to your chosen VPN’s website and download the VPN client for your device. You can also get the VPN app from your device’s app store. You can grab a NordVPN subscription at a 72% discount from NordVPN’s website.
Connect to a VPN Server Outside Russia
Scroll through the VPN provider’s server list and choose a VPN server outside Russia. For faster speeds, choose a server in a country close to Russia.
Access YouTube Freely
Sign in to YouTube using your Google account and start watching your favorite channels or music videos.

Which VPN Services Can Access YouTube in Russia?

Our tests show that NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are the best VPNs to access YouTube in Russia. Many other VPN services struggle to unblock YouTube in the country largely due to the VPN ban in Russia. You can read our article on the best VPNs for Russia, but here’s a snapshot of the top three options for YouTube.

NordVPN — Fast and secure VPN that can unblock YouTube in Russia, with features like post-quantum encryption, Threat Protection and its NordWhisper protocol designed to bypass VPN restrictions.
Surfshark – Affordable and secure VPN for Russia.
ExpressVPN — Secure and beginner-friendly VPN for Russia.

If you can’t afford a VPN right now and want a free option, consider PrivadoVPN. Its free version offers access to servers in 10 countries, which you can use to access YouTube in Russia. PrivadoVPN is free, but it has important security features such as a kill switch and various protocols. While it has a 10GB high-speed monthly data limit, it’s sufficient for occasional YouTube viewing when other options aren’t available.

Why Russian Authorities Banned YouTube

Russian authorities have banned YouTube in a bid to keep a tight rein on public speech and control what its citizens watch and hear. Though Russia has always been a censorship-driven country, attempts to control the narrative around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led the country to ban news outlets like BBC Deutsche Welle and social media like WhatsApp and Facebook.

The Russian government allowed YouTube to operate for a while, most likely because millions of Russians use the video-hosting site and an outright ban would have been drastic. However, the Kremlin began throttling YouTube speeds in August 2024, which many perceived as a precursor to banning the video platform altogether. Initially, state-owned telecom operator Rostelecom attributed the slowdowns to technical issues before officials later admitted to deliberately throttling the platform.

Aleksandr Khinshtein, who heads a Russian lawmakers committee on technology, said in a July 25, 2024, Telegram post that “the ‘degradation’ of YouTube is a forced step, directed not against Russian users but against the administration of a foreign resource that still believes it can violate and ignore our legislation with impunity.” The government is actively promoting Russian alternatives like VK Video, Rutube and Platforma as YouTube replacements, giving them more control over content distribution and censorship.

The Russian government is steadily increasing its internet censorship capabilities. According to recent reports, the Kremlin plans to spend 60 billion rubles ($660 million) between 2025 and 2030 to enhance its Technical Measures to Combat Threats (TSPU) system, making internet censorship even more effective and harder to bypass.

Final Thoughts

YouTube is being throttled and is becoming increasingly unavailable in Russia. However, you can still access the platform using a VPN. Simply download and install a VPN and connect to a server outside Russia. You should then be able to access YouTube as if in another country.

We recommend NordVPN thanks to its secure server network and privacy-friendly features. There’s no need to hesitate — NordVPN’s 30-day refund policy allows you to experience its benefits firsthand without any long-term obligation.

Have you used a VPN to watch YouTube in Russia? How was your experience, and which VPN do you recommend? Do you have any questions or comments about using a VPN to watch YouTube in Russia? Share your experiences and thoughts with us in the comments section below. As always, thanks for reading.

FAQ: How to Watch YouTube in Russia

Yes, virtual private networks like NordVPN can help you access YouTube in Russia. A VPN can change your virtual location to another country and help you access YouTube as though you were physically in that country.
YouTube isn’t working in Russia because the government has begun throttling the platform and making it unavailable. The government cites the platform’s anti-Russian policy as one of the reasons.
The Russian government is pushing VK Video and Rutube as alternatives to YouTube. Another option is Platforma, which is essentially a clone of YouTube.