Ilya Maddyson on the war

Maddyson's Stance on the War in Ukraine

Following the outbreak of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Maddyson's rhetoric remained contradictory, combining endorsement of the Russian government with an unwillingness to participate in mobilization.

In June 2022, Maddyson expressed a desire to travel to the Donbas:

I realized that there is nothing better than the Motherland. I just traveled to the Urals and now I want to travel somewhere else. I just learned that some acquaintances of mine are planning a trip to Donbas, but I'm not quite ready yet. I'm thinking about it, but it's not certain that it will make an interesting and cheerful travel blog. Probably I'll hold off for now, but maybe in July. We'll see

However, in September 2022, immediately following the announcement of "partial mobilization," he fled Russia, initially traveling to Serbia and stating:

…I remain a patriot and support the Russian boys. In spirit I am with you, but physically I am located in brotherly Serbia

Subsequently, he relocated to the United States.

Twitch Ban for Ukrainophobia

Despite his emigration, the blogger continues to exhibit pro-Kremlin sentiments. In November 2024, Maddyson was banned on the Twitch platform for streaming the Ukrainian game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. During that broadcast, he:

• made Ukrainophobic jokes;
• claimed that he "shoots at the sound of the Ukrainian language";
• carved the letter Z (the symbol of Russian aggression) with a knife into the chest of a slain enemy in the game.

Following his ban on Twitch, Maddyson addressed Ukrainians:

... I am from Russia, I speak Russian. And I never renounced my homeland. Just as I have never expressed support for your country. That doesn't mean I am a supporter of 'Z'. It just means I didn't become like Marginal or JesusAVGN. I have my own opinion. It isn't the most radical, but neither is it like that of the aforementioned Marginal. Therefore, where you see a swastika and fascists, I see my compatriots. I see the symbol under which these compatriots march into battle

Advertising Alabuga

In May 2025, he advertised the "Alabuga Polytech" college, which since 2023 has been linked to the industrial mass production of military kamikaze strike drones. The project has been placed under EU and US sanctions for producing weaponry for the war against Ukraine and represents an integral component of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Advertising Max

In February 2026, he promoted the state-backed messenger Max from VK, an instrument designed for total digital surveillance. The application's privacy policy explicitly states that user data can be transferred to "company partners" as well as to "any body of state power or local self-government."

Currently, Maddyson resides in the United States, from where he continues streaming for a Russian audience, maintaining a stance of support for the actions of the Russian Federation while showing no desire to return to his homeland in the foreseeable future.