According to Frank Media, citing two sources, the Russian video hosting service Rutube has begun large-scale staff layoffs.
Sources told the publication that the cuts are related to the integration of Rutube with the online cinema Premier and the short vertical video app Yappy. Employees were informed that they are being dismissed by mutual agreement with a severance payment of two months' salary, as the video hosting platform "will not be able to function in its current format."
One source noted: "All these companies had overlapping positions, and now, as a unified large platform is being created, many roles have become redundant. The HR department also explained that the company does not have sufficient funds to support such a large number of employees."
According to Frank Media, citing an informed source, layoffs at Rutube are occurring across entire departments. At the Alcon business center on Leningradsky Prospekt, where the video hosting service rents three floors, a large number of workstations are now empty.
The press service of Gazprom-Media stated that the holding is "exploring various options for restructuring and optimizing team functions" but did not specify how many employees might be affected by these changes.
In June 2025, Gazprom-Media CEO Alexander Zharov announced plans to merge several hosting services on the basis of Rutube, promising that the unified platform would launch in the first half of 2026.