Ukraine: YouTube Blocks Access to Ukrainian TV Channels Tied to Kremlin Ally

KYIV, UKRAINE - Three Ukrainian television channels linked to an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin were blocked from broadcasting on Google's YouTube on Saturday, the Ukrainian government said, following its request to YouTube to have the channels taken down.

The YouTube channels of ZiK, 112 Ukraine and NewsOne did not play their content and instead showed a blank screen with a message saying the channel was not available. "We are pleased such an influential American company is willing to cooperate when it concerns issues of Ukrainian national security and Russian disinformation," Ukraine's embassy to Washington said in a tweet. YouTube did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.