Leonid Parfyonov is a Russian journalist, television presenter, documentary filmmaker, and YouTuber, author of the acclaimed historical television projects «Namedni» and «The Russian Empire». He was born on January 26, 1960, in Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast. In 2017, Parfyonov also acquired Israeli citizenship.
Warning. Despite anti-war statements, this person remains part of the Russian information space. If you choose to consume their content, please evaluate the expressed opinions critically and verify information through independent sources.
Leonid Parfyonov's Stance on the War in Ukraine
Anti-War Stance Since 2014
Leonid Parfyonov's anti-war position became evident back in 2014. On September 19, 2014, he publicly urged Russians to take part in the «Peace March» protesting the Russian Federation's aggression in Ukraine and sharply condemned war propaganda across state-run media:
What have we come to, when in our country peace is considered a disgrace and betrayal, while warmongering is hailed as honor, valor, and heroism.
The Crimea Question and the Myrotvorets Database
In July 2021, Leonid Parfyonov gave an interview to Evgeny Kiselyov, in which he provided an ambiguous response to the question «Whose is Crimea?»:
I always answer very simply here (in Ukraine, - Ed.): not mine. The people who ask this question here are very strange—they assume that everyone lives within the same agenda, and what's more, that they must without fail say exactly what they, the questioners, think about that agenda…
Parfyonov also refused to explicitly describe Crimea as annexed by Russia, while stating that he did not view it as a «voluntary accession»:
Well, what kind of accession is that, when from the start the Russian flag was already hanging over administrative buildings, and only then was the ‘referendum’ conducted.
Following these statements, he was entered into the database of the «Myrotvorets» center for encroaching upon Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Stance After the Outbreak of the Full-Scale Invasion
Anti-War Statements
On the very first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Leonid Parfyonov published an anti-war post:
This is not a horrible end; this is horror without end. There will be no return to past life; what lies ahead is entirely different and long-lasting. Until now we did not understand the plan and kept hoping that the absolute worst wouldn't happen. And right now we don't know—what comes next? As has happened more than once before, in the end Russia will bear the greatest grief. No to war.
Emigration and the Project «#NMDNI — 2022»
Fearing criminal prosecution in Russia, Parfyonov left for Georgia. In Tbilisi, he produced an extensive special edition of his documentary series—«#NMDNI - 2022», dedicated to the war in Ukraine. In it, he openly denounced the Russian invasion, fiercely derided Kremlin propaganda, and portrayed the reality of events—from the tragedies in Bucha and Mariupol to mass emigration, anti-war art, and the repression of dissent within the Russian Federation.
In an April 2024 interview on the YouTube channel «Eto vse eshche tsvetochki», Parfyonov argued that the Russian authorities themselves have no idea what to present as a victory, while the majority of the population does not consciously endorse the war:
It is completely obvious that the authorities do not know what to pass off as a victory... First Artemovsk... we will fight for it for 7 months, significantly longer than for Stalingrad, and then we will proclaim that it is Berlin.
Currently, Parfyonov is known to reside in France while making frequent trips to Israel.
Interview with Yury Dud
In December 2022, in an interview with Yury Dud, Parfyonov stated that nothing good awaits Russia in the future, emphasizing that «things will only get worse from here, they cannot possibly get better.» He acknowledged that within his circle, very few had believed in the real probability of a full-scale war, regarding it as impossible.
On calling things by their true names: «Well, we must call things by their true names. What is this—invading across four fronts and still refusing to call it a war? <...> We'll be standing soaked to the bone and still claiming it's not raining.
On the shock of what occurred: «It was impossible to believe that it would unfold as such distilled evil, that Russian tanks would simply advance on Kharkiv.
On the senselessness of what is happening: «Right now, no one, not even the most rabid propagandists, can coherently explain how this is supposed to end well in their view.
On Russia's future after the war: «On the day the war ends, even with a mere truce... for Ukraine, the worst will then be behind it, while for Russia, the worst will be ahead. Mark my words.
On real Russophobia: «The greatest Russophobia is to say: ‘Without Putin, there is no Russia.’ It is impossible to imagine a darker Russophobia than that. <...> It means claiming that 145 million people are so inept and helpless that they cannot replace one single person... And throwing 1,150 years of statehood since Rurik straight into the furnace.
Parfyonov has also publicly denounced the imperial pretensions of the Russian leadership, asserting that Russia has become infatuated with chimeras it possesses no strength to realize. In his projects produced after the invasion began, the journalist has consistently brought up the war crimes committed by the Russian army, notably documenting the truth about the atrocities in Bucha.
Controversial Episodes
The Rostec Advertising Scandal
In late March 2022, an episode of Parfyonov's YouTube show included an integrated advertisement for the state corporation Rostec—the key arms manufacturer for the Russian military.
In his interview with Yury Dud, Parfyonov explained that the commercial segment had been recorded prior to the beginning of the full-scale invasion. According to him, the editorial team had no means of canceling the already finalized contract, because funding for the production of the episode depended on it:
Yes, people spat on me in all the comments. Yes, I know that. Yes, I had no other way to release the episodes of ‘Namedni’. And there was no possibility of picking and choosing advertisers, nor is there now.
During the interview, Dud pushed back, noting that the episode with the ad aired after the war had already started, and reminded him that the sponsor was specifically Rostec. In response, Parfyonov reaffirmed that the segment had been recorded beforehand, while acknowledging that this episode caused severe damage above all to his own reputation.
Merchandise Store with Delivery to Occupied Territories
Leonid Parfyonov operates an official online merchandise store with shipping across Russia. When checking out, customers could select occupied territories of Ukraine displayed as part of Russia (such as Luhansk, Mariupol, and Yalta).
This indicates that the store utilizes a Russian postal address database containing territories that Russia unilaterally claims as its own. Such settings may stem from the default e-commerce platform or courier service integrations. However, in the vast majority of e-commerce systems, the store owner and their administrative team retain the ability to restrict delivery geographies and exclude specific regions.
Despite the presence of controversial episodes, they do not alter the overall assessment. Following the start of the full-scale invasion, Leonid Parfyonov has consistently opposed the war and condemned the actions of the Russian authorities. He publicly explained the Rostec advertising scandal and conceded it dealt a serious blow to his reputation. On the question of Crimea, while he avoided taking an unequivocal legal stance, he never endorsed the Russian narrative of the annexation. The online store's shipping options to occupied territories raise valid questions, but in themselves do not constitute sufficient proof of deliberate endorsement of the war.
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