Vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy says Philippines jail time ‘built me’ after release

Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy has spoken publicly about his nine-month detention in the Philippines, saying the experience, though harsh, ultimately strengthened him.

In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Jan. 21, the 33-year-old content creator revealed that he spent 290 days incarcerated at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City following his arrest for unjust vexation.

“After 290 days in the Philippines jail with rats, cockroaches, and +35 Celsius weather, I am finally free,” he wrote, alongside a carousel of photos and videos documenting his time in detention.

“They really tried to break me, but it built me,” Zdorovetskiy added.

The post included images of his bunk bed, views of the overcrowded facility, clips commenting on daily meals of tuna and rice, footage from a Bible study session, and videos showing his arrival in Russia after deportation. He also shared a manipulated image of himself in a bikini and scenic shots taken after his release.

Zdorovetskiy said that 91 days of his detention were spent in complete isolation. “They wanted me gone but I’m here, all glory to God. Without faith, it wouldn’t be possible,” he wrote, thanking supporters who stood by him during his incarceration. He ended the post by teasing a future project, writing, “Your boy is back! Full documentary coming soon!”

The vlogger was arrested in Pasay City in June last year after a series of incidents filmed for online content. In one viral video, he was seen harassing a security guard in Bonifacio Global City, verbally abusing a masked woman, stealing an electric fan, and clinging to a moving tricycle that later crashed.

Zdorovetskiy was deported to Russia on Jan. 17. Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado confirmed that his name has since been placed on the agency’s blacklist, barring him from reentering the Philippines.

Known for controversial publicity stunts, Zdorovetskiy has faced multiple arrests in the past, including incidents involving the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, the Pyramids of Giza, and an assault charge in Miami in 2020.