MOSCOW, Feb 17 (Reuters) - A Russian court has fined

Alphabet's Google 3.8 million roubles ($41,530) for

hosting content on YouTube that included videos instructing

Russian soldiers how to surrender, Russia's TASS news agency

reported on Monday.

Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology

platforms to remove content it deems illegal, such as what it

calls "fakes" about the war in Ukraine, issuing small but

persistent fines when it sees failures to comply.

Google did not immediately respond to an emailed request for

comment.

Critics accuse the Russian authorities of deliberately

disrupting YouTube's download speeds to prevent Russians from

viewing content on it which is critivcal of President Vladimir

Putin and his government.

Russia denies that, saying the issues are caused by Google's

own failure to upgrade equipment, a charge disputed by the

company and technology experts.

Putin in December accused Google of being a tool used by the

U.S. government to score political points.

($1 = 91.5000 roubles)