The latest episode of the series "Maria Wiernikowska's Grand Expedition into Russia" aired on Zero Channel and has ignited significant outrage online, particularly due to the first episode's content that focused on Kaliningrad. In response to the backlash, companies like STS and XTB have urged Zero Channel to blur their advertisements that were displayed during the initial report. This controversy represents larger tensions surrounding media portrayals of Russia in Poland, as companies seek to distance themselves from politically charged content.

Since its release on February 14, the new episode set in Tomsk has garnered over 425,000 views by February 17. However, this time, viewers were notably not presented with any advertisements. This absence has raised questions about how sponsors perceive their association with this kind of media content and whether this reflects broader concerns about reputational risks associated with airing politically sensitive topics.

XTB Polska, one of the companies that pulled its ads, confirmed that their branding would not appear in future episodes, emphasizing that their partnership with Zero Channel is strictly promotional and does not reflect any political affiliations. This situation highlights the growing scrutiny regarding corporate sponsorship in media, particularly as companies navigate the complexities of public sentiment related to international reporting on countries like Russia.