Ukrainian stars and Russia’s war – part 1

Who’s who?

The war that Russia began on Ukraine on Feb. 24 reveals the real faces of people not only in Ukrainian politics but in show business too. While Russian troops continue bombing Ukrainian cities, killing civilians, and raping women and children, some Ukrainian stars are smiling on the Kremlin stage, performing at corporate parties in Sochi, and saying au revoir to their Ukrainian relatives.

The majority of Ukrainian and the world’s famous celebrities and public figures support Ukraine. Hollywood starts, entrepreneurs and public figures are helping Ukrainian refugees, raising funds to support Ukraine.

On March 17, the Vice-Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament officially thanked Elon Musk, Richard Branson, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, David and Victoria Beckham, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jennifer Aniston, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Jim Carrey, Emilia Clarke, Stephen King, Joanne Rowling, Sting, Armin van Buuren, Tom Odell, Lady Gaga, Sir Paul McCartney, Robert De Niro, Madonna for supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Angelina Jolie was recently spotted in a Lviv cafe.

Many Ukrainian celebrities have joined the ranks of the territorial defense or armed forces. “Okean Elzy” frontman Svyatoslav Vakarchuk travels to the cities of Ukraine and performs in the front where hostilities are taking place. The leader of the Boombox band, Andriy Khyvnyuk joined the territorial defense and was injured by mortar fire.  The popular band Antytila led by the charismatic Taras Topolya has also taken up arms in defence of Ukraine.

Verka Sedyuchka (runner-up in Eurovision 2007), a.k.a. Andriy Danylko, who is extremely popular in Russia, from the first day of the Russian attack has regularly published statements to support Ukraine on his Facebook page.

Verka Serduchka with his “mother” are riding a Neptune rocket that hit the Russian cruiser Moskva (Credited from Verka Serduchka Art Facebook page)

Quite a few Russian celebrities have voiced opposition to the war. The list includes Maksim Galkin, Ivan Urgant, Andrei Makarevich,  Yuri Shevchuk, Boris Akunin, Konstantin Khabensky, Valeriy Meladze, Miron Fyodorov, known as “Oxxxymiron, and others.

But may others have supported the Kremlin. One particular website, www.theylovewar.com, has collated a list of all the “stars” and public figures who support Russia’s bloody war in Ukraine. It includes Dima Bilan, Oleg Gazmanov, Nikolai Baskov, and many others.

The Ukrainian play-alongs with Russia

And there are Ukrainian stars that live and have bolstered their careers in Russia and who also remain silent about Russia’s war, or, by implication, condone it.

Here are a few examples:

Taisia Povaliy 

Thissinger, People’s Artist of Ukraine, and Member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the 7th convocation, Taisia Povaliy, who has lived in Russia for many years despite Russia’s aggression against Ukraine since 2014, has stayed silent about this war as well.

On April 16, she performed on the Kremlin stage with her Russian pro-Putin colleagues Baskov and Stas Mikhailov. The two male artists openly express their loyalty to the Kremlin, spreading false facts about the so-called “special operation” – Putin’s euphemism for the war he has launched, and “the fight against Ukrainian Nazis” on social networks.

Screenshot of Stas Mikhailov and Tayisiya Povaliy on Kremlin stage April 16, Mikhailov Instagram account.

Ani Lorak

A People’s Artist of Ukraine, winner of many Ukrainian and Russian music awards, Lorak represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 and took second place with the song “Shady Lady”.

She was born in the western Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi but has spent many years living in Russia. She too has kept silent about Russia’s war.

Lorak recently canceled all her concerts in Russia and left for the UAE. Lorak’s official website states that the singer plans to perform in Germany and Prague in October. On February 28, she published an Instagram post after the negative reaction from Ukrainians, but it has since been deleted:

“My beloved brothers and sisters! There is a war going on in Ukraine! The war is deadly and destructive, peaceful people die every day, and what is worse – children! I am a Ukrainian, a mother, and my relatives are now in Ukraine under shelling, like millions of Ukrainians. My heart is now with each of those who suffer from this horror! I beg you to stop this senseless, useless war!”

Screenshot of Ani Lorak video, Ani Lorak Instagram page

But the star did not condemn Russian aggression or mention Putin. Asa reult of her ambivalence, on March 23, Lorak’s name was officially removed from the “Alley of Stars” in Chernivtsi.

The name of opera singer Vasyl Herello has also been removed from the “Alley of Stars”. He too was born in Chernivtsi Region and supports Putin. On March 18 he performed at a “festive” concert dedicated to the anniversary of Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea.

Elka

The well-known singer, originally from the western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod, Elizaveta Ivantsev, known popularly as Elka, has been living and working in Russia and has not condemned the war against her country. She continues to give concerts and perform at corporate parties, thereby implicitly supporting the invasion of her homeland. On April 30, Elka performed at a corporate party in the Russian city of Sochi.

Elka singing her hit “Provence”, Telegram account

Regina Todorenko

Blogger and TV presenter Regina Todorenko, who hails from Odesa, has remained silent about the war in her native Ukraine. Earlier, the artist hinted that she avoids talking about the Russian invasion due to the differing political views of her husband, Russian singer Vlad Topalov.

Neither the killing by Russian invaders of her former boyfriend nor the fact that the Todorenko family has come under Russian shelling in Odesa, have led her to speak out.

Screenshot of Regina Todorenko with her Russian husband Vlad Topalov, April 12, Regina Todorenko Instagram account.

Regina has hinted where she stands in a song in which where she says: “Goodbye to everyone!”. She sings: “Don’t wait for me, mom, I won’t come home today” and “Don’t call me, dad, your daughter has become different.”

To be continued…