Russian YouTuber Vitaly Faces Deportation to Russia

Russian content creator Vitaly Zdorovetskiy faces deportation to his native Russia following the completion of a nine-month prison sentence in the Philippines for harassment-related offenses stemming from disruptive livestreams in Manila. Authorities announced the decision on January 15, 2026, with his departure expected within a week after final clearances.

Zdorovetskiy, a 33-year-old YouTuber and Kick streamer known for prank videos, was arrested in April 2025 in Bonifacio Global City, a bustling commercial district in Taguig, Metro Manila. Police responded to complaints during one of his broadcasts, where he engaged in actions that violated local laws. Officials reported that he attempted to kiss and grab a security guard, tried to seize the guard's firearm, recorded individuals without consent, and filmed in restricted areas without permits. Additional charges included unjust vexation, alarm and scandal, and attempted robbery, with allegations of assaulting an elderly woman, stealing a tricycle and an electric fan, and verbally harassing a person wearing a face mask. Philippine authorities designated him an undesirable foreign national and detained him under the Bureau of...