: Viewers spent approximately 1.9 billion hours on the platform, with views increasing by nearly 20%.
Rutube: The "Russian YouTube" and Its Rise in the Global Digital Shift
: The number of content creators on Rutube jumped by 137% in a single year. rutube
: State-backed TV channels like Channel One Russia and NTV are directly embedded into the platform's toolbar.
: The platform has introduced "non-linear" features such as movie ticket sales and video preloading for offline viewing. Russia's RuTube is no match for YouTube - The Spectator : Viewers spent approximately 1
Despite being roughly the same age as YouTube, Rutube's audience has surged only recently. By early 2026, the platform reported:
: Creators can earn revenue once their channel reaches 5,000 views, provided videos are at least one minute long. Growth and Future Outlook : The platform has introduced "non-linear" features such
Since late 2020, Rutube has been owned by , a subsidiary of the state-backed energy giant Gazprom. This acquisition marked the beginning of heavy investment intended to make the platform a credible rival to Western services. According to reports from the Atlantic Council , Rutube is now part of a broader "techno-isolationism" trend within Russia. Content and Ecosystem