YouTube, Google Play suspend payment-based services in Russia

Alphabet Inc's YouTube and Google Play store are suspending all payment-based services in Russia, including subscription.

A young person carries a dog as around 650 refugees from Ukraine arrive at Hannover Messe in Laatzen, Germany. (AP)

Alphabet Inc's YouTube and Google Play store are suspending all payment-based services in Russia, including subscriptions, as Western sanctions start to pose banking challenges in the country. Google and YouTube had recently stopped selling online advertising in Russia following similar pauses by Twitter Inc and Snap Inc after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"As a follow-up, we're now extending this pause to all our monetization features, including YouTube Premium, Channel Memberships, Super Chat and Merchandise, for viewers in Russia," YouTube said in a statement on Thursday.

YouTube channels in Russia will still be able to generate revenue from viewers outside of Russia through ads and paid features, which include Super Chat and merchandise sales. Free apps on Google Play also remain available in Russia, according to a company support website.

Dutch internet providers block Sputnik News, RT websites

(ANI): In response to Russian military operation in Ukraine, Dutch internet providers on Tuesday have blocked the websites of Sputnik and RT as part of EU sanctions.

Three providers - VodafoneZiggo, T-Mobile and KPN - have enacted the blocking today, reported Sputnik.

The NOS broadcaster reported that the websites of Sputnik and RT are among the six Russian media outlets blocked by the Netherlands.

On 2 March, the EU banned the operation of Sputnik news websites and the broadcasting of the RT TV channel.

Prior to that, Instagram and Meta restricted access to Sputnik and RT across the EU. Also, Google said it blocked YouTube channels related to RT and Sputnik.

All these measures have been taken in response to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, which was started by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24.