Yury Dud on the war

Stance on the War in Ukraine After 2022

Condemned the Recognition of the "LDPR"

Yuri Dud publicly condemned Russia's recognition of the "LDPR", publishing a post on his Instagram on February 22, 2022, about the principles of the Russian regime:

...An emperor who has become obsessed with history. An entourage with amputated opinions and willpower. A propaganda escort that so smoothly and so sweetly approves of war from warm metropolitan apartments. And the decisions that this entire clique makes. Decisions aimed not at converting natural resources into the well-being of Voronezh, Kamchatka, Nikel, and Zapolyarny, but at enriching themselves and staying in control of these resources for as long as possible... When my children grow up, reach this slice of history, be utterly shocked and ask: «Dad, what were you doing back then?» — I will have written proof: I did not elect this government, and I did not support its imperial frenzy.

Condemned Russia's Invasion

Subsequently, the journalist condemned Russia's invasion of the territory of Ukraine and left Russia together with his family. On February 28, 2022, he followed up with a post in which Yuri detailed his anti-war position:

...Putin invaded the territory of a sovereign state and is waging a war there. The regime has sanctified the Victory Day holiday, yet for four days now it has been arresting and putting into administrative detention people who take to the streets with placards reading «No to War». The Ministry of Defense of Russia claims that it destroys only enemy military targets using precision weapons, but in Ukraine, according to UN data, there are already more than 100 dead civilians, hundreds wounded, more than 350,000 refugees, and an unknown number of thousands in bomb shelters. Back in September 2021, Putin called poverty the main enemy of Russia, but just five months later he torpedoed our country's economy and condemned a significant part of the population not to poverty, but to destitution...

Following the full-scale invasion, Yuri continued releasing interviews with well-known figures on his YouTube channel, condemning the aggression against Ukraine and communicating similar perspectives of prominent Russian personalities to the Russian audience.

Documentary Films About the War

On April 11, 2022, the film "Man During the War" was released, depicting the work of volunteers helping refugees from Ukraine.

Statements on the Anniversary of the Invasion

On February 24, 2023, on the anniversary of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Yuri wrote on social media:

Today marks exactly one year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Exactly one year of a bloody and senseless war unleashed by Putin and his inner circle. All these past days, the world has been publishing photographs and videos showing what this war has led to: Mariupol, Bucha, Irpin, Bakhmut, many thousands killed, millions forced to flee their homes... In all his years in power, Putin never managed to provide security and comfort for people in his own land, and instead went off to seize the land of others. To the Ukrainian people and all the people from Russia, Belarus, and other countries who speak out against this war — support and a speedy victory over evil.

Criticism of Yuri Dud's Position

"Whitewashing Russians" in the War

In his interviews and public statements, Yuri Dud has repeatedly declared that he does not support the imperialist regime in Russia. However, in doing so, he carefully separates ordinary Russians from the government, promoting the idea that "The problem lies with Putin, while ordinary Russians are not to blame." Such rhetoric can be perceived as an attempt to "whitewash" or excuse Russian citizens in the eyes of the global public.

A closer look at his interviews on the war gives the impression that Dud's main goal is not so much to stop Russia's war against Ukraine as it is to soften sanctions pressure on his country and prevent the formation of an image of Russians akin to the perception of Germans after World War II.

Why it is important to take a critical look at the content of so-called "good Russians", and specifically at Yuri Dud's stance, is analyzed in detail in the video by the Zagon Kinomanov channel "IS YURI DUD AN ENEMY OF UKRAINE OR NOT?".

Persecution in Russia

On April 15, 2022, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated Dud as a "foreign agent media outlet". And in June 2025, a criminal case was opened against him for failure to fulfill the obligations of a "foreign agent".

On September 23, 2026, Rosfinmonitoring added Yuri Dud to the official list of "terrorists and extremists".

Mizulina's Lawsuit and Funds for the "SMO"

In 2024, Ekaterina Mizulina filed a lawsuit against Yuri Dud for the protection of honor, dignity, and business reputation, claiming that the journalist had disseminated statements defaming her reputation and the reputation of the "Safe Internet League" which she heads.

In July 2026, Mizulina reported that she had received part of the funds recovered from Yuri Dud following a court ruling in the defamation lawsuit. On her Telegram channel, Mizulina announced that she had transferred this money to the All-Russia People's Front in support of Russian servicemen participating in the war against Ukraine. She accompanied the publication with payment documents and ironically wrote: "And so Dud became the first foreign agent to donate to the SMO."

From the earliest days of the full-scale invasion, Yuri Dud adopted an anti-war stance and has repeatedly publicly condemned the actions of the Russian authorities. At the same time, part of the Ukrainian audience continues to criticize the journalist for his rhetoric regarding the collective responsibility of Russians and his attempts to divorce Russian society from Kremlin policy.