50 documentaries dubbed in Russian will be rolled out on THE WHY’s YouTube channel over the coming months, in a bid to bring reliable information to the world’s Russian speaking community.

The films have been carefully selected by our team and focus on themes directly affecting Russian-speaking citizens: Corruption, war, democracy, children’s rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues and slavery and just some of the topics the films explore. From a young non-binary individual fleeing their homeland in Iraqi Kurdistan, to a failed attempt at a democratic election in a Chinese classroom, to  the brainwashed child soldiers of a Jihadi leader, the films give a nuanced, insightful look into the complex world we live in. 

All 50 documentaries will also be donated to independent broadcasters seeking factual content in bordering countries Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Mongolia.

Bringing this information to Russian speakers as soon as possible is critical, according to CEO of THE WHY Mette Hoffmann Meyer:

“Human-focused documentaries have the power to initiate dialogue and evoke a powerful emotional response from viewers,’’ says Hoffmann Meyer, “They have the power to educate and inform people on issues they never knew existed - especially if they can watch them in their native language.’’

Providing the films on YouTube also ensures that the information will get maximum exposure. Russians are some of the most active social media users in Europe, averaging nearly two and a half hours per day according to a 2021 survey. Despite media crackdowns, YouTube is still one of the most popular video platforms in the country with a penetration rate of over 80 percent.

Each week we will launch 5 documentaries on our main YouTube channel, starting today with five award-winning films - Putin’s Kiss, Albino Boy in Africa, Leaving the Cult, Please Vote For Me and My Afghanistan.