Jana Toom and Oleg Bessedin are influential voices in Estonia’s Russian-language media space. Today, Propastop launches a new series profiling the most influential YouTubers in Estonia who express themselves in Russian.
In today’s Propastop overview, we take a closer look at Russian-language YouTube channels that stand out for spreading Kremlin narratives and/or influencing Estonia’s information hygiene.
MEP Yana Toom Video — an official voice with a tone of oppositiondiga
The YouTube channel of MEP Yana Toom (5,400 subscribers) focuses on the issues of the Russian-speaking population, minority rights, and European Union politics. The videos emphasize criticism of Estonia’s language policy, developments in Brussels, and social tensions within Estonia.
While Toom’s rhetoric does not contain outright disinformation, it often aligns with narratives found in Russian state media, particularly in relation to Western sanctions, security topics, and integration.
Her most viewed video (43,000 views) is a speech opposing the revocation of voting rights for third-country nationals. “We talk about security risks, about Russia being the aggressor. But stripping 140,000 people of their right to vote is a blow to internal security,” said Toom, calling the Estonian Parliament’s decision shameful.
Rakurs Tallinn – a little-watched Centre Party channel
This newly launched podcast (1,700 subscribers) is hosted and produced by Sergei Ovchenkov, a former editor of the portal stolitsa.ee. Topics covered include tax policy, language policy, migration, and urban governance.
Frequent guests are representatives of the Centre Party, such as Jana Toom, Mikhail Kylvart, Aleksandr Chaplygin, and others. The content is delivered emotionally and often one-sidedly, with a strong emphasis on the “pressure” and unfair treatment of Russian speakers.
Although the host himself avoids overtly pro-Kremlin rhetoric, the platform readily gives a voice to those who promote such narratives. For example, former Tallinn mayor Mikhail Kylvart says in a recent episode:
“People are increasingly being made to feel that their language, culture, and very existence are a problem.”
Oleg Bessedin – a local YouTube star
Oleg Bessedin (TVN) is a YouTuber with 170,000 subscribers and a high level of professional production. His channel combines personal commentary with interviews featuring guests, the most popular of whom are mainly Russian politicians, war experts, and publicists. Notable guests include
- Aleksandr Sosnovski – A journalist living in Germany who frequently criticizes the West and supports Russian foreign policy.
- Konstantin Sivkov – A Russian military commentator and doctor of military sciences, known for his predictions about global conflicts.
- Sergei Markov – A political scientist and former State Duma deputy from the United Russia party, closely aligned with the Kremlin.
- Aleksei Martynov – A political technologist and director of the International Institute of the Latest States, who advocates for integration within the post-Soviet space.
Bessedin’s channel primarily focuses on international issues—particularly the war in Ukraine and criticism of Western countries. The agenda is largely shaped by guests who promote narratives aligned with the official or Kremlin-adjacent positions of the Russian government. For example, one regular guest is military commentator Konstantin Sivkov, who has made statements such as, “The leaders of the Baltic States are leading their people to slaughter by pushing them into war with Russia.”
Thus, the channel functions as a media platform that systematically disseminates interpretations of events in line with the Russian state’s viewpoints. In the Estonian context, it helps shape part of the Russian-language narrative space and acts as an influence channel capable of affecting perceptions of both international and domestic developments.
Send us your examples.
Which Russian-language YouTube channels do you watch or notice in the Estonian media space? Let us know in the comments on social media or send us a message. This is just the first part of the series. In the upcoming parts, we’ll cover even more platforms that influence the Russian-speaking audience living in Estonia.
