Who Replaced Departed Bloggers?
2022. Dozens of top bloggers left. Channels closed. Monetization stopped. Ad breaks. It seemed that Russian-speaking YouTube was dead. Or, at least, in a coma from which it would never emerge.
2026. YouTube is alive. Not just alive – it has been reborn. Old faces are gone, but new ones have appeared. Different formats, different energy, different audience.
Who are they – those who filled the empty spaces? We're analyzing the main discoveries of recent years, on which Russian-speaking YouTube now relies.
Why old bloggers left – and why not all will return
The reasons for their departure are known: political events, blocks, loss of advertising, desire to change scenery. Many left for Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Israel. Some continued filming but lost part of their audience. Others changed their themes – from politics to entertainment, from news to vlogs. Others went underground or closed projects entirely.
Ivangai. TheBrianMaps. EeOneGuy. The "A Pogovorit'?" channel. Many of those who garnered millions of views in 2015-2020 are now either inactive or not reaching their former numbers.
But the viewers didn't disappear. They simply switched to others.
A giant attention funnel formed. And new faces filled it. Faster than anyone expected.
Who replaced the departed – the main categories of newcomers
The new generation of Russian bloggers does not copy the old stars. They invented their own formats. Or smartly adapted Western trends to the Russian audience.
The first category — former streamers who moved to YouTube. They brought with them a live audience accustomed to long-form content and active chat interaction. Their shows are a hybrid of streams and highlight reels, where the pace is higher and the editing is tighter.
The second category — analysts and debunkers. The "I've studied the topic for 20 hours and I'm telling you in 40 minutes" format. People are tired of superficial reviews. They need depth. The new stars are those who dig, fact-check, and build theories.
The third category — short-form creators who transitioned to long-form. TikTokers who realized that 15 seconds wasn't enough. They brought the dynamics of vertical videos into a horizontal format. The result was aggressive, fast-paced, and youthful.
The fourth category — "quiet" bloggers. Without shouting, without exaggerated emotions. Atmospheric filming, subdued voice, meditative editing. This is a response to informational noise. People want a break from screaming.
The fifth category — collaborators. Those who create content not alone, but with a team, with guest stars, with the audience. Their channels resemble TV shows, but without producers and scripts. Or with them, but good ones.
Names you need to know – top 10 newcomers of Russian-speaking YouTube
Here are specific names. Those who, in the last 2-3 years, soared from scratch or a small base to millions of subscribers.
1. avva (Oleg Avramenko) — a former TikToker who transitioned to long videos. Format: ironic breakdowns of internet phenomena, memes, trends. Style: fast editing, self-irony, light cynicism that zoomers like. In 2024-2025, gained over 2 million subscribers.
2. Alexey Shevtsov (Shevtsov) — investigative journalist. Format: video essays of 40-90 minutes about high-profile events, scandals, dark stories. Style: dry, factual, to the point. His analysis of the Bilalov case or the VK story is watched by all adult YouTube audiences. Started from scratch in 2023 — now almost 1.5 million.
3. Masha Timchenko (mashatim) — the voice of a generation tired of pomp. Format: vlogs with stand-up elements. She talks about everyday life, relationships, work, but in a way that each video is a separate comedic performance. 1.2 million in two years.
4. Sergey Druzhko (new channel "Druzhko Show") — an old blogger, but with a new concept. After a break, he returned with a format of "journalistic investigations" in the world of mysticism and crime. Style: atmospheric, with elements of noir. In one year — 2 million on the new channel.
5. Dasha Koreyka (dashakoreyka) — creator of videos about emigration, adaptation, life in a new country. Format: honest vlogs without embellishment. No "perfect life." Just everyday life, problems, small joys. This resonates with those who have left or are considering leaving. 900 thousand in a year and a half.
6. Andrey Lisovsky (lisovskiy) — former producer who started filming about how content is made. Format: breakdowns of viral videos, algorithm analysis, interviews with bloggers. Style: calm, expert, without shouting. Became the voice of the industry itself. 800 thousand.
7. Katya Clapp (katyaclapp) — creator of videos about psychology, but without overly complex terms. Format: breakdowns of toxic relationships, manipulation, self-esteem. Style: friendly, supportive. Her audience is women aged 18-30. 700 thousand.
8. Max Brandt (maxbrandt) — tech blogger, but without smartphone reviews. Format: "technology for normal people." How to set up a smart home, how not to buy fake goods on a marketplace, how to protect data. 600 thousand.
9. Liza Metelitsa (metelitsa_liza) — creator of videos about fashion and style, but with humor and self-criticism. Format: breakdowns of celebrity looks, tips for short/non-skinny people, honest try-ons. 500 thousand.
10. Project "Nu i Nu" (nu_i_nu) — a collective channel about strange news from around the world. Format: 2-3 hosts discuss cringe-worthy, funny, or shocking stories. Style: light, conversational. 1.1 million.
What all newcomers have in common – 5 lessons for those who want to repeat
Look at this list. What unites them?
First – they found their niche. They didn't try to be "all things to all people." They didn't copy the top creators. They didn't play other people's games. They asked themselves: "What am I better at than others?" – and answered honestly.
Second – they understand their audience. Not "everyone," but a specific person. A 20-year-old girl tired of glossy magazines. A 30-year-old guy who moved to another country and feels lost. A 25-year-old programmer who wants to understand technology. Know your viewer by name – and they will reward you.
Third – they invest in quality. Not necessarily in an expensive camera. But in the script, in the editing, in the sound, in the lighting. People are accustomed to high quality. A poorly filmed video will be skipped in 10 seconds.
Fourth – they are consistent. Once a week, twice, three times. Not "when inspiration strikes." Inspiration is found in the process, not before. The viewer should know: a new video comes out on Friday. And it comes out. Always.
Fifth – they are honest. Everyone senses falsehood. Especially the young audience. Don't try to appear smarter, richer, happier than you are. Show your true self. With mistakes, doubts, bad days. That captivates more than any editing.
Where Russian-speaking YouTube is heading in 2026 — trends and forecasts
The platform is changing. Here are the main trends that are already visible.
Trend one — convergence with Telegram. Many bloggers create Telegram channels as a "second screen." There's behind-the-scenes content, polls, exclusives, interaction. Telegram doesn't kill YouTube, it complements it.
Trend two — growth of long videos. Paradoxically: in the age of TikTok, people watch 2-3 hour videos. But only if they are genuinely interesting. The "I'm building a birdhouse for 6 hours" format works. The "I'm playing a game for 3 hours" format does not. The viewer needs a story, not a process.
Trend three — podcastization. More and more videos are simply conversations. Two smart people discuss a topic. Minimal editing. Maximum meaning. And people listen to it in the background, like a podcast.
Trend four — regional content. YouTube didn't die in Russia. The center of gravity simply shifted. Bloggers from Siberia, the Urals, from small towns are gathering an audience because they are real. Not "this is how they live in Moscow," but "this is how they live in Norilsk." And that's interesting.
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