Unblock YouTube in Russia: Bypass Throttling with The Easy Solution

If you're in Russia and having trouble loading YouTube videos, it's not just your internet acting up. Recent reports suggest that Russia plans to slow down YouTube by up to 70% by the end of next week.

There's even talk about a possible permanent block of YouTube in September, according to a source from the independent news outlet Meduza on July 12, 2024.

With over 93 million users in Russia, YouTube is the last major Western social media platform still working there. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are already blocked unless you use a VPN. Unfortunately, using these tools is becoming riskier in the country.

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Why is YouTube Being Throttled in Russia?

On Thursday, July 25, Alexander Khinshtein, the chairman of Russia's parliamentary committee on technology, explained on Telegram that the throttling is a "consequence of the anti-Russian policy of the host." He mentioned that this measure will mainly affect desktop users.

Khinshtein argued that YouTube "consistently deletes channels of our public figures (bloggers, journalists, artists) who have views that differ from the Western perspective."

However, international civil societies strongly disagree with this reasoning. Last May, over 20 organizations urged Google to stop aiding Russia in censoring free speech, pointing out that more anti-war videos and channels have been blocked since February. Interestingly, YouTube throttling reportedly began on July 11, two weeks before Khinshtein's announcement.

Russian authorities initially denied any involvement in the YouTube throttling, with telecom operator Rostelecom blaming the issue on technical problems. However, just a day later, a source close to the presidential administration told Gazeta.Ru that Russia plans "to finally block YouTube in September."

The Russian digital rights group Roskomsvoboda confirmed to TechRadar that while watching videos is still possible, issues arise as the video quality increases. "If the censors don’t get what they want (likely unblocking and blocking specific channels), the chances of a complete YouTube ban are very high," said Stanislav Shakirov, CTO at Roskomsvoboda.

Shakirov believes that the authorities aim to replace YouTube with Russian alternatives like VK media or RuTube to have more control over content. He added, "Those who want to access independent political content will likely turn to YouTube using a VPN."

Can a Russia VPN Help?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a tool that encrypts your internet connection, making your online activities more private. It also masks your real IP address, making it look like you're browsing from a different country. This feature is exactly what you need to bypass government-imposed throttling and other geo-restrictions.

As mentioned earlier, popular social media platforms are already blocked in Russia, along with a growing number of websites, including many news outlets and even official VPN provider sites.

While VPNs are becoming increasingly essential in Russia, the authorities are actively cracking down on their use. For years, VPN services have been targeted by censorship campaigns, and a new law enforced in March now makes it illegal to share information on how to bypass internet restrictions.

In early July, around 25 popular VPN apps were removed from the Apple App Store in Russia. There’s concern that the Google Play Store might be next. Despite these challenges, there are still ways to download and use VPNs.

"There are still working VPNs available in the Apple App Store that can help you bypass censorship," says Stanislav Shakirov from Roskomsvoboda. "Also, keep in mind that 95% of Russian users use Android, not iPhone."

A good strategy is to download multiple VPN apps. This way, if one gets blocked, you can switch to another. Check out our guide on the best free VPN services to find secure options, but be careful—only a few free VPNs are safe to use in Russia.

Roskomsvoboda has even developed its own VPN product, Amnezia Free, which you can set up on your server as a self-hosted VPN. Shakirov also mentions two VPN services focused on Russia: RedShield and Xeovo.

If you’re having trouble downloading your chosen VPN, try sideloading it on an Android device. Look for alternative installation pages and services. For instance, Le VPN, one of the VPNs affected by the recent Apple App Store crackdown, launched a special service that connects you to secret servers using third-party open-source software and obfuscated VPN connections.

But VPNs aren't your only option. Tor Browser is another great tool that reroutes your internet traffic through multiple layers of encryption while also spoofing your IP location. FreeBrowser is a similar option you can use on Android devices to access geo-restricted content.

Frequently Asked Questions about Russian YouTube Unblocked

Can you still watch YouTube in Russia?

Curbs on Twitter, now X and Meta Platforms' (META. O), opened new tabs on Facebook and Instagram soon followed. But most non-Russian media and YouTube, the most popular foreign video platform in Russia, remained available

What is a Russian platform like YouTube?

Rutube, stylized as RUTUBE is a Russian video platform.

Did YouTube stop monetization in Russia?

Google turned off the monetization of Russian YouTube bloggers in March 2022, after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. At that time, YouTube users from Russia stopped seeing ads, and bloggers did not receive most of their income.