Russian YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy breaks silence on harsh Philippine jail conditions, phone access, and alleged corruption

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy did not whisper his story, he said it out loud, live, and in front of millions. The Russian vlogger spoke about his 10-month jail stay in the Philippines during a livestream with Adin Ross on January 23, 2026.

He claimed he lived in harsh conditions, faced unfair treatment, and saw deep corruption inside the detention center. Zdorovetskiy said guards controlled basic needs like water and medical help. He also claimed money decided how people were treated inside.Most importantly, he said he secretly had a mobile phone during his entire jail stay and recorded videos to expose what was happening inside. The vlogger was deported to Russia on January 17, 2026, after being held for months by Philippine authorities.

As of now, no official statement has been released by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration about his claims.

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy describes jail life, corruption claims, and phone access during Adin Ross livestream

Speaking calmly but firmly, Vitaly Zdorovetskiy said his first three months were spent in complete isolation. He described the jail as overcrowded, dirty, and extremely hot. According to him, temperatures inside went up to 35 degrees Celsius, with poor airflow. To survive the heat, inmates used buckets of water to cool themselves.

He then spoke about daily struggles. Zdorovetskiy claimed guards controlled drinking water, hygiene items, and even doctor visits. He said, “Access to basic needs depended on the guard. Sometimes I had to pretend to faint just to get water.” He also said medical help was slow and unreliable.The most serious claim came next. Zdorovetskiy told viewers, “I had a phone the whole time in jail. I vlogged everything, and I will expose the corruption.”

He alleged that banned items like phones were easy to get if money was paid. He said, “You pay the guard, and you are good.”The vlogger also talked about what he called “jail politics.” He said inmates with money or lawyers lived better lives. He claimed many foreign nationals stayed locked up for years over small cases because they could not afford legal help.Despite the hardship, Zdorovetskiy said jail changed him.

He spent time reading books and thinking about his life. He said, “I read many business books. I became more disciplined.”Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was arrested on April 3, 2025, in Pasay City. Philippine authorities later labeled him an “undesirable foreign national.” The case followed livestreams where he was accused of bothering locals and security staff. After serving time and facing charges related to public disturbance, he was deported.So far, Philippine authorities have not confirmed any bribery or security failures. The story remains based on Zdorovetskiy’s account shared on Adin Ross’s livestream.