YouTube glitches recorded in the occupied parts of Luhansk oblast as well

The occupied part of Luhansk region is now experiencing issues with access to YouTube as well, sources in the occupied territores report to the IMI representative in Luhansk oblast.

One source said that YouTube was only accessible through a VPN today.

According to another source, the video hosting's speed dropped three days ago.

"The day before yesterday, you could not open YouTube itself, let alone download anything. Yesterday the website would open, but downloading something was only possible every now and then, the speed was normal for about 10-15 seconds, then it dropped to zero. Then would reconnect and try to download again," the source said.

The relocated Luhansk media outlet "Realna Hazeta" reported, citing a source, YouTube was unaccessible even through a VPN.

The publication noted that during the recent YouTube glitches both in Russia and in the occupied territories, using VPN services helped them open the website.

YouTube block in Russia and the territories it occupies

As the IMI reported, the occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk oblast is seeing a significant drop in YouTube speed due to Russia's policy.

Earlier, Russian media reported that the Russian authorities had informed the largest telecom operators in the country that playback speed of YouTube videos would drop to 128 kilobits per second.

YouTube has faced heavy criticism in Russia for taking down channels that broadcast Russian state media. Russia has also fined Google on many occasions for failing to remove content Russia considers illegal or undesirable.

YouTube blocked the channels of many Russian propagandists following Russia's full-scale invasion into Ukraine.

YouTube glitches have also been recorded in occupied Crimea.