Dmitry Larin (real name — Utkin) is a Russian video blogger, rap artist, and stand-up comedian. One of the pioneers of Russian YouTube, known for his critical reviews and conflicts with other bloggers. Born on November 29, 1987, in Arkhangelsk Oblast. In November 2021, he left Russia and relocated to Bali (Indonesia) after being interrogated as a witness in the criminal case against blogger Yuri Khovansky, fearing political persecution.
Dmitry Larin's Stance on the War in Ukraine
Immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Larin took a clear anti-war stance. On February 24, 2022, he published a video titled "NO TO WAR", in which he condemned the actions of the Russian authorities. He attempted to place all the blame on Putin and the regime, calling ordinary Russians hostages of the authorities:
We are all hostages of the current regime. It is to blame for what is happening right now.
At the same time, he reminded Russians that they indirectly finance the war by paying taxes in the Russian Federation.
On his Telegram channel, Larin mocked pro-war Z-propagandists such as Stas Ay Kak Prosto and Nikolai Sobolev, calling Russian television that brainwashes the population "Goebbels-TV."
He released numerous videos on his YouTube channel supporting Ukraine and condemning Russian aggression. He also criticized mobilization in Russia and spoke candidly about the legal problems he faced due to denunciations, as he was formally accused of "discrediting the Russian army."
Interview with Sobchak in 2023
In August 2023, during an extensive interview with Ksenia Sobchak, Dmitry Larin reaffirmed his stance and made several sharp statements regarding the Russian military and mobilized personnel:
The fact that your country is becoming an occupier is, excuse me, completely beyond the pale. — Do you feel pity for mobilized Russians? — I feel pity for everyone. I pity mobilized Ukrainians, I pity mobilized Russians, but when it comes to occupation, occupiers deserve no pity.
Larin also strongly criticized the political leadership of the Russian Federation, describing events as the insanity of a single person:
I always believed that in the end reason would prevail — and I was wrong. Madness prevailed. People are dying, blood is being shed. Russia is ruled by a mentally deranged dictator, and what is most dreadful is that it submissively complies with his paranoia.
The blogger notes that leaving Russia saved him from imprisonment and the necessity of staying silent. He continues hosting streams and recording videos criticizing Russian propaganda, discussing current events, and staying connected with an audience that opposes the war. According to him, he has no intention of returning to the Russian Federation under its current regime.
https://youtu.be/dQZVBB2GSc8?si=oqLzA5rH5f4Nqp5b