TikTok Blocks Ukrainian Access to Arestovych’s Account

Arestovych’s TikTok Account Suspended

According to Главком: Users in Ukraine can no longer access Oleksiy Arestovych’s TikTok account. The platform took this step as part of its collaboration with Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation. Previously, YouTube also removed two of Arestovych’s channels.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enforced a National Security and Defense Council decision imposing sanctions on several Ukrainian and Russian individuals. Those sanctioned include:

• Oleksiy Arestovych, a former informal adviser to the head of the Presidential Office
• Blogger Myroslav Oleshko, who has been officially notified of suspicion by the SBU

Arestovych’s Role and Controversial Statements

Arestovych served as an informal adviser to the head of the Presidential Office from December 2020 to January 2022. During his tenure, on January 14, 2022, he claimed that a Russian missile hit a residential building after being intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses. However, Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat confirmed that Russian forces had indeed fired the missile at the building.

Arestovych also suggested holding a joint prayer with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for the war dead, advocated for territorial concessions to Russia, and called for a trial of President Zelenskyy. These statements sparked widespread public backlash and prompted official government action.

The suspension of Arestovych’s TikTok account and the sanctions imposed on him highlight the growing efforts by Ukrainian authorities to combat disinformation and curb socially harmful speech.

This move underscores the critical need to manage the information space during wartime and protect national interests. It reflects the Ukrainian government’s ongoing push to strengthen information security amid external threats.

The recent actions against Oleksiy Arestovych's social media presence are part of a broader trend of increasing control over information platforms in Ukraine. This is reminiscent of the steps taken by Russia, which is moving towards a complete ban on messaging applications like Telegram. Such measures reflect the urgent need for governments to regulate digital communication in times of conflict to mitigate the spread of harmful narratives.