The streaming platform "Twitch" is gaining popularity in Ukraine, gradually forming a unique Ukrainian-speaking community. Poltava streamers Vitaliy and Vlad Yaroshenko, who perform under the nickname "Rpoxu," have become prominent figures on the platform, gathering a huge audience and shaping their own style of content.
"Twitch" initially focused on an English-speaking audience, but now Ukrainian streamers are actively contributing to this segment. The Yaroshenko brothers entered the online world on December 16, 2020, and since then have conducted almost 900 hours of streams, shaping their channel into a true online show filled with youthful humor and self-irony. Today, their channel has over 70,000 subscribers.
Features of streaming on "Twitch"
The main advantage of "Twitch" is the ability to communicate live with viewers in real time. Unlike "YouTube," where communication is limited to comments, streamers on "Twitch" actively interact with the chat. "We primarily have an adult audience. People come in for live communication and emotions," shares Vlad Yaroshenko.
The impact of war on content
During the full-scale war, the Ukrainian-language segment of "Twitch" has grown hundreds of times. "If there were few streamers before, now there are thousands," note the Yaroshenkos. The brothers mentioned that an important aspect of Ukrainian "Twitch" is charity: many streamers hold marathons to raise funds for the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
However, the war has significantly affected content creation opportunities. "We have to postpone large-scale ideas, as the audience is more interested in charitable initiatives," they add.
The uniqueness of Ukrainian streamers
The Yaroshenkos also point out that Ukrainian streamers are trying to compete at a global level. "Tremba" - a Ukrainian streamer who made it into the top for the number of paid subscriptions - attests to the competitiveness of Ukrainian content.
Moreover, Ukrainian streamers continue to combat Russian influence on the platform. They encourage the audience to communicate in Ukrainian and avoid using Russian terms in the chat.
A look into the future
Accompanying challenges for Ukrainian streamers are the strict rules of "Twitch," which require content control. However, despite the restrictions, Poltava streamers are showing creativity and are ready for new challenges. Along with this, "Rpoxu" assures that Ukrainian "Twitch" has immense potential and continues to develop its audience.
