Short answer: the Russian-language TV market in the US was reshaped in 2022 and hasn't come back. US satellite and streaming companies dropped Russian state channels after the invasion of Ukraine, and in May 2022 the US government sanctioned Channel One, Russia-1 and NTV, barring US companies from selling them advertising or equipment. What's left splits cleanly. For traditional channels and film libraries, Kartina.TV, a long-running Brooklyn-based operator, sells a package from $15 to $18 a month and describes itself as licensed. For independent Russian-language news, TV Rain and Current Time stream online, and Current Time is free.
At a glance
Russian-language TV in the US
| Many channels + films | Kartina.TV, $18/mo or $180/yr |
| Independent news | TV Rain (Dozhd), Current Time (free) |
| Ukrainian channels | 20+ in Kartina's package; many stream free |
| Sanctioned since May 2022 | Channel One, Russia-1, NTV |
| Mainstream US services | No Russian channel packages |
What changed in 2022
Before 2022, Russian speakers in the US could buy Russian channel packages from satellite and streaming providers much like any other language pack. That ended within months of the invasion. DirecTV dropped RT on March 1, 2022, and other carriers followed with state-controlled channels.
Then, on May 8, 2022, the US Treasury sanctioned three of Russia's biggest broadcasters: Channel One, Russia-1 and NTV. The measures stop US companies from funding them through advertising or selling them equipment. They were aimed at the broadcasters' revenue, but in practice they pushed mainstream US distributors away from carrying Russian state TV at all.
So the real question now isn't "which big US service has Russian channels". None do. It's which specialist service fits what you watch, and how comfortable you are with its channel list.
The options, side by side
| Option | Price (Sep 2026) | What you get | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kartina.TV | $18/mo, or $180/yr ($15/mo); 30-day trial | 200+ channels incl. 20+ Ukrainian, film libraries, 14-day archive, 3 screens | Households wanting the broad channel mix |
| TV Rain (Dozhd) | Free content plus paid subscription in app | Independent news and analysis, now based in Amsterdam | Viewers wanting independent coverage |
| Current Time | Free | RFE/RL's Russian-language news channel, live online | Daily news without a subscription |
| Netflix / Prime Video | From $8.99/mo | A modest selection of Russian- and Ukrainian-language titles | Occasional viewers |
Kartina's prices are from its US site. TV Rain's subscription price is set in its app and varies by platform.
Kartina.TV: what you're buying
Kartina.TV has been selling Russian-language TV to emigrant communities for years. It has a US office in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, with a US phone support line, and it describes itself as a licensed operator carrying only legal content. Plans are $18 a month, or $180 a year (works out to $15 a month), with a 30-day free trial.
For that you get 200-plus channels, including more than 20 Ukrainian stations, access to film libraries from Russian platforms such as START, Kinopoisk and PREMIER, a 14-day archive, and three simultaneous streams. Apps cover iPhone, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and smart TVs, and there's a $65 branded box if you want one.
Two things to weigh before paying:
- Licensing. Kartina says it is licensed. We can't independently verify every channel's rights, so read its terms, and use the free trial rather than prepaying a year on day one.
- Content. The channel list includes Russian state broadcasters. That's the product many older viewers want, but it's also the content US sanctions are aimed at. If that bothers you, the independent news options below may be the better fit.
How to check any provider before you pay is covered in how to find a legitimate provider.
Independent Russian-language news
TV Rain (Dozhd) was Russia's last major independent TV channel. It left Russia in 2022 and now broadcasts from Amsterdam. Much of its programming is free on YouTube, and its app offers a paid subscription with more.
Current Time is the Russian-language TV channel of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, funded by the US Congress. It streams live for free on its website and apps.
Several other exiled Russian newsrooms, such as Meduza, publish video on YouTube as well. On a TV, the YouTube app on any streaming device handles all of these.
Films and series on demand
Netflix and Prime Video both carry some Russian-language and Ukrainian-language films and series, though the selection is modest and rotates. For classic Soviet films, Mosfilm has published much of its archive officially on YouTube for years, free.
If films are the main thing your household wants, compare Kartina's included libraries with what you'd get from Netflix plus free Mosfilm. For some families that combination is enough.
What to avoid
You'll find many sellers offering "Russian IPTV" playlists with every federal channel for $5 to $10 a month, usually through messaging apps and payment by transfer or crypto. Those aren't licensed, they fail often, and paying them sends money to anonymous operators. The warning signs apply exactly here.
Also be careful with anything that routes payments to Russian banks. Several are under US sanctions, and a subscription that relies on them can simply stop being payable. What US law says about IPTV explains the broader rules.
Setting up a player app for a playlist you legitimately receive from a provider? Choosing a player covers the apps.
Quick answers
What is the best Russian TV streaming service in the USA? For a broad channel package, Kartina.TV. For independent news, TV Rain and the free Current Time channel.
Can I watch Channel One or Russia-1 in the US? Not through mainstream US providers. Both were sanctioned by the US in May 2022, along with NTV.
How much is Kartina.TV? $18 a month, or $180 a year, with a 30-day free trial.
Is Kartina.TV legal? It describes itself as a licensed operator and has a US office. Check its terms and use the trial before prepaying.
Is there free Russian-language TV in the US? Yes. Current Time streams free, TV Rain posts much of its programming on YouTube, and Mosfilm offers classic films free.
Does Sling or YouTube TV have Russian channels? No major US live TV service currently sells a Russian channel package.
Can I watch Ukrainian channels in the US? Yes. Kartina includes more than 20, and several Ukrainian broadcasters stream online.
Sanctions details from US government announcements reported in May 2022. Kartina.TV pricing and features from its US website; its licensing claims are its own. This is not legal advice. Checked September 2026.