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In August, the topics that garnered the most attention from viewers of the Ukrainian international broadcasting channel FREEДОМ, aimed at a Russian-speaking audience abroad, were related to the successful operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Russia’s Kursk region. Videos on various aspects of the Kursk operation appeared in the trends of the Russian YouTube segment four times. Overall, views of content under the FREEДОМ brand on digital platforms increased by 37% in August, reaching 259 million*.
The most popular video in August on the FREEДОМ YouTube channel was a segment of an interview with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Indian journalists, where he noted that Russian air defense systems are concentrated around Putin’s dachas. It received 2.8 million views: 95.8% from abroad:
64.8% from Russia,
5.4% from Uzbekistan,
5.2% from Kazakhstan,
2.4% from Tajikistan.
The second most popular video was a report by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, to the President of Ukraine on the military operation in Russia’s Kursk region and the control of 74 settlements by Ukrainian forces. The video garnered 2.6 million views, 98.2% from abroad:
74.7% from Russia,
5.2% from Uzbekistan,
3.6% from Kazakhstan,
2.1% from Tajikistan,
1.9% from Kyrgyzstan.
The “Anti-Zombie” project episode on the flight of Kadyrov’s forces from the Kursk region was viewed 1.1 million times 90.5% of views were from abroad:
58.3% from Russia,
6.3% from Kazakhstan,
3.1% from Uzbekistan,
2.4% from Germany.
The “Front News” episode about Russian soldiers surrendering had 810,000 views 80.4% of views came from abroad:
42.8% from Russia,
6.2% from Kazakhstan,
3.8% from Uzbekistan,
3.1% from Belarus.
Throughout August, FREEДОМ’s coverage of Kadyrov’s forces fleeing, Russian soldiers surrendering, Oleksandr Syrskyi’s statement on controlling 1,000 square kilometers of the Kursk region, and comments from residents of Sudzha, who said the local authorities had abandoned them, trended in Russia’s YouTube segment.
Other topics that drew attention from FREEДОМ viewers included events related to Ukraine’s Independence Day, international support (including the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi), successful Ukrainian special operations on Russian territory, such as the drone strike on an oil depot in Proletarsk, Rostov region, and stories about Russian prisoners of war. In August, FREEДОМ aired an exclusive interview by correspondent Mykyta Skoblikov with Russian prisoners of war who surrendered during the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region and are currently held in a special facility. Most of them are conscripts. 95.9% of views of the interview came from abroad, with 73.6% from Russia, 3.6% from Kazakhstan, 2.5% from Uzbekistan, and 2.1% from Belarus. The top cities by views were Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Nizhny Novgorod, and Yekaterinburg. The interview received a total of 407,000 views.
In August, the total number of views of content under the FREEДОМ brand on various digital platforms of the “MPIU” (YouTube, Facebook, Telegram, X, TikTok) and partner platforms reached 259.9 million*, which is 37% more than in July. Throughout its operation, this figure has reached 11.2 billion views.
Amid reports of YouTube’s slowdown in Russia, the share of YouTube views for FREEДОМ and FREEДОМ.LIVE from Russia remained stable at 56% (-0.3 percentage points compared to July), while the overall share of views from abroad increased to 92.4% (+2.3 percentage points). In August, views from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus increased, with FREEДОМ and FREEДОМ.LIVE accumulating 67 million views on YouTube over the month.
Additionally, in response to reports about Russia preparing to restrict YouTube’s operation, FREEДОМ launched an information campaign in late July to increase live stream views directly through the broadcaster’s website using VPN services.
In August, FREEДОМ received a commendation from the Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov. The head of Ukrainian intelligence noted FREEДОМ’s significant contribution to equipping the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense with “Sych” strike-reconnaissance drones.
*Total figures across all digital platforms (YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram) of “MPIU” and on partner platforms of Ukrainian media groups broadcasting content under the FREEДОМ brand.
**Data provided as of August 31, 2024. Data sources: analytical tools of digital platforms; Google Analytics; YouTube Studio of FREEДОМ channels and partners.
