The National Security and Defense Council will block Russian artists on music platforms in Ukraine
A mechanism is being developed in Ukraine that will allow music streaming services to restrict access to content by Russian performers based on decisions of the National Security and Defense Council. As the head of the subcommittee on the music industry of the parliamentary committee on humanitarian and information policy, President of UAME Oleksandr Sanchenko, told the media, a list of artists who may be restricted is currently being formed.
According to Sanchenko, industry organizations have already prepared a list of Russian performers and submitted it to the SBU. These materials can then be sent to the Ministry of Culture or directly for consideration by the National Security and Defense Council. Some cases are already in the final stages, while others are still being processed.
Technical methods for implementing restrictions are being determined in the negotiation process with large streaming platforms.
“The services outlined two possible scenarios: either a general ban on language grounds through the law, or blocking specific artists based on NSDC sanctions with access restrictions based on geolocation in Ukraine”, – Sanchenko noted.
The deputy added that the first option does not correspond to the country’s European integration course, so they currently prefer the sanctions mechanism.
Currently, we are talking about approximately 120 Russian performers for whom the relevant restrictive decisions have already been adopted or are being prepared. It is expected that the NSDC will provide this information to streaming services in the near future. Whether all platforms will agree to implement the decision will become known approximately by March 2026.
As reported, in February, a petition to block Russian-language music on streaming services gained the necessary number of votes, but the government noted the lack of legal grounds for a language ban. After that, UAME initiated the expansion of sanctions lists in the cultural sphere as an alternative tool of restrictions.
