Ukraine blocks two Russian social networks, major mail service, and search engine

[Shalcker]

As part of "extending sanctions on Russia" as they belong to same "Mail.ru Group"

Those sites were holding top spots on internet visits by Ukrainians.

...i guess they are proving that they are "Russia on steroids" as far as freedom of speech is concerned.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Wor...-networks.ashx

KIEV: Ukraine Tuesday blocked popular Russian social networks and an internet search engine as it expanded sanctions against the Kremlin for its alleged backing of a three-year war in the separatist east.

President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree banning access to VK -- often referred to as Russia's Facebook -- and Ukraine's version of the popular Yandex search engine.

It also cut access to the Mail.ru email provider, the Odnoklassniki (Classmates) social network as well as the Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab cyber security and anti-virus provider.

The bans apply for three years.

Kiev has been gradually expanding its list of banned Russian products and people forbidden from entering the country for either voicing support for the Kremlin's March 2014 annexation of Crimea or the self-proclaimed independence of Ukraine's east.

Numerous Russian movies and television series have been forbidden. The ban also covers some books.

The West strongly supports Kiev's assertion that Russia has both plotted and backed the insurgency in the eastern industrial regions of Lugansk and Donetsk that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

The war began less than two months after massive street protests toppled a Russian-backed president in February 2014 and both Kiev and the West see the conflict as Russia's retribution for the loss of its ally.

But human rights groups have voiced criticism of Ukraine's decision to apply its sanctions against various forms of cultural entertainment as a violation of free speech.

The immediate reaction to Poroshenko's decision in Ukraine itself was strongly negative.

"Hello, North Korea," 112 rolling news channel editor Vitaliy Prudyus wrote on Facebook.

VK, formerly known as VKontakte, is Russia's most popular social network. Its official Ukraine page wrote in February that it gets 16 million unique visitors daily in Ukraine.

The sanctions already in place nearly overshadowed the Eurovision Song Contest that concluded at the weekend in Kiev.

Ukraine banned Russia's contestant for staging a performance in Crimea a year after its annexation.

Russia responded by refusing to air the kitschy competition and organizers have warned Ukraine that it may be forbidden from taking part in upcoming events for its actions.

[Lolgo]

Finally, I say. Some of our people are too stupid to understand the principles of hybrid war, unfortunately. This will make the right choice for those, who are too anemic to do it themselves.
Also, maybe next time try to quote from a less pro-russian source?

[Shalcker]

Finally, I say. Some of our people are too stupid to understand the principles of hybrid war, unfortunately. This will make the right choice for those, who are too anemic to do it themselves.

Thank you for supporting Russian point of view! That'll make reabsorbing you later much easier, after all we have no differences at all!

Also, maybe next time try to quote from a less pro-russian source?

No other big sources available so far that show up on google, there is mention on AFP but no articles yet.

[Mavett]

Proxy to the rescue...

[Ermelloth]

If it's actually true, it's a completely wrong move.

Ukraine calls Russian regime authoritarian and tyrannical and at the same time performs pretty much authoritarian and tyrannical acts? Totally stupid.

[Kuax]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...b69_story.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...ion-sanctions/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39934666
http://staging.hosted.ap.org/dynamic...05-16-07-46-16

Tbh, I'm surprised that western media reporting it, but I don't think there will be much attention paid to the event.

[Shibito]

If it's actually true, it's a completely wrong move.

Ukraine calls Russian regime authoritarian and tyrannical and at the same time performs pretty much authoritarian and tyrannical acts? Totally stupid.

Well Russia did annex some of their land so

[Ermelloth]

Well Russia did annex some of their land so

As if a windmills fighting vs. Russian social networks and entertainment media can help in retrieving these.
Besides, since 99% of Ukrainians speak Russian as well, they use these sites as frequently, as Russians themselves. So it's basically cutting your own people's freedoms as well.

[Deleted]

As if a windmills fighting vs. Russian social networks and entertainment media can help in retrieving these.
Besides, since 99% of Ukrainians speak Russian as well, they use these sites as frequently, as Russians themselves. So it's basically cutting your own people's freedoms as well.

They can always cross the border if they are terribly displeased. In Ukraine's position I'd not let any kind of interference or influence spread from Russia, if I could help it. It may not bring anything back, but welcoming anything from Russia is same as bending over. Country in Ukraine's position needs to be especially careful, Russia is the kind of country that exploits any weakness without any remorse.

[Deleted]

I use VK quite a lot (But I'm not Ukranian). I have some groups I follow that upload sick underground metal (Complete albums). It's one of my main sources for new bands.

I understand why Ukraine would do this. But clever people will find a way around it anyway.

[TheImperios]

[IMG]https://ericpetersautos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/angry-pig-pic.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ca/39/38/ca3938c3b8a5d6c42c46fca69acb70ff.jpg[IMG]

(Infracted)

[Super Kami Dende]

That sure showed them.

[Puri]

Wow, that's really a pity for the ukraine. VK and yandex are a great source for illegal content and porn (btw, do russians really like to watch those dubbed movies where some amateur speaker is just voicing over the original soundtrack?).

[Mihalik]

As part of "extending sanctions on Russia" as they belong to same "Mail.ru Group"

Those sites were holding top spots on internet visits by Ukrainians.

...i guess they are proving that they are "Russia on steroids" as far as freedom of speech is concerned.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Wor...-networks.ashx

All Russian owned and operated domains should be blocked outside Russia. And all Russian goods should be embargoed. And Russian citizens should be subject to severe travel restrictions.

[Deleted]

I can't be the only one who expected this to be a hubcap thread acting all serious

[Barnabas]

Yeah that's the reaction I'd expect.

[Lolgo]

Are those your ethics and diplomatic agility in two pictures?

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you for supporting Russian point of view! That'll make reabsorbing you later much easier, after all we have no differences at all!

Do try. And see the results.

- - - Updated - - -

And by the way, comparing russian thought policing vs Ukrainian pruning of russian propaganda is laughable. It's not a situation you can judge with a wide view and generalization.

[Shalcker]

Do try. And see the results.

We already do! In your efforts to separate from Russia you're outdoing Russia on every free speech suppression metric!

Keep it up! Great example for everyone!

And by the way, comparing russian thought policing vs Ukrainian pruning of russian propaganda is laughable. It's not a situation you can judge with a wide view and generalization.

Oh, really? Keep dreaming.

[Deleted]

Good. All Russian sites should be put behind a firewall.

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/...trump-wall.jpg

(Infracted)

[Lolgo]

We already do! In your efforts to separate from Russia you're outdoing Russia on every free speech suppression metric!

Keep it up! Great example for everyone!

Oh, really? Keep dreaming.

I think it's you who should stop dreaming and come to senses. I understand that somewhere deep inside every russian is pretty much in panic from being a slave and desperate to break free. But instead of doing that you just want to drag the rest of the world to your level. You come up with the most ludicrous of lies and out of your fear try to find any possible thing to blame others. But that's not how reality works.

Also, your results are pretty pathetic so far. You've already bled thousands in manpower and billions in money. For us 2016 has actually brought profit. You do the math.