Denys Davydov (Ukrainian:Денис Давидов) is a Ukrainiancitizen journalist who operates primarily onYouTube andTelegram, and is best known for his coverage and analysis of theRusso-Ukrainian war. His YouTube channel, which maintains over half a million followers, became the most followed channel run by an individual covering the war in Ukraine in March 2023.[c] The English-language Ukrainian pressKyiv Post has called Davydov "one of YouTube's most recognizable Ukraine experts", with information and commentary made by Davydov being used by multiple media publications since the beginning of the war.
Davydov was born on 27 February 1987 inCrimea,Ukrainian SSR.[2][3] Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Davydov was a commercial pilot forUkraine International Airlines, pilotingBoeing 737-800 aircraft.[4][5] After 29 March 2020 during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Davydov became unemployed after a stop in global air traffic was put in place to slow the spread of the disease.[4] Davydov, however, continued to practice flying procedure in this time through the use of a Boeing 737 simulator on his computer, with the intention to return to his job as a pilot when the stop was lifted.[4]
After Russia launched it'sinvasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Davydov supported Ukraine as acitizen journalist as opposed to becoming a soldier, providing analysis of the war from Ukraine on his Telegram and YouTube channels.[1] Davydov has continued to cover the war and related events in the form of near-daily updates since.[1] Around January 2023, Davydov left Ukraine with his family and moved toSwitzerland, citing security concerns with remaining where they were.[2]
Information and commentary from Davydov has been used a number of times in the media, including by the English-language Ukrainian pressKyiv Post,[6][7][8][9] the Britishopen-source intelligence companyJanes Information Services,[10] the American newspaperThe Hill,[11] the British newspaperThe Times,[5] and the English-language Italian pressThe Aviationist.[12] Davydov's commentary, which often revolves around troop movements and strategy,[6][8] has on occasion materialized on the frontline. An instance of this occurred in 2024 when small Ukrainian aircraft was used to target Russian drones, something Davydov had recommended in a post in 2022.[12] In 2024,Kyiv Post called Davydov "one of YouTube's most recognizable Ukraine experts", and has conducted interviews with him on multiple occasions.[8][9]
^917 thousand (Denys Davydov) + 1.36 million (Pilot Blog)
^726 million (Denys Davydov) + 476 million (Pilot Blog)
^An article byEuromaidan Press in March 2023 about the most followed individuals on YouTube covering the war in Ukraine showed Davydov just surpassingArtur Rehi,[1] who he was shown behind of in an article byKyiv Post in January 2023.[2]
