Ukrainian Actress Fired for Wearing Traditional Embroidery and Speaking Ukrainian

Victoria Bilan-Rashchuk's Dismissal

According to РБК-Україна — Lite: Actress Victoria Bilan-Rashchuk has spoken out about being fired from the Lesya Ukrainka Theater during the Euromaidan protests. She stated that her patriotic stance was the reason for her termination. While most theaters in Kyiv shut down, the Russian Drama Theater continued performances, with 45 staff on stage but only 20 audience members in the hall. At the time, the theater's artistic director was Mykhailo Reznikovych, a member of the Party of Regions.

Patriotic Actions and Consequences

Bilan-Rashchuk began openly showing her patriotism by wearing a vyshyvanka (traditional embroidered shirt), saying 'Glory to Ukraine,' and switching to the Ukrainian language at work. She recalled that 'there were enough people who started reporting this to the management.' After an 'unpleasant conversation' with Reznikovych, the actress was dismissed.

He said he had no issues with me as an actress, but 'это личное' (this is personal). I asked: 'What personal matters do we have? I don't come to your office for coffee.' He replied: 'Такие люди нам в театре не нужны' (We don't need such people in the theater). And that was it-I was removed. - Victoria Bilan-Rashchuk

Bilan-Rashchuk also expressed her pain over the firing, saying: 'It hurts deeply. I loved that theater; I had love there.' After the full-scale war began, actors managed to push for changes. The theater was renamed the National Academic Drama Theater named after Lesya Ukrainka and now performs exclusively in Ukrainian.

• We kept fighting for the theater not to bear the name of Russian drama.
• The theater must perform only in the Ukrainian language.

'Now it is the National Academic Drama Theater named after Lesya Ukrainka. Finally, Lesya Ukrainka can rest easy knowing that a Russian theater is not named after her,' the actress emphasized.

This dismissal marked a significant moment in Ukraine's cultural shifts during the Euromaidan era. Bilan-Rashchuk was among those who openly championed Ukrainian language and culture, reflecting a broader trend of national self-awareness in the country. Following the full-scale invasion, the Lesya Ukrainka Theater adapted to new realities, demonstrating a commitment to Ukrainian culture that underscores the importance of patriotic values in contemporary Ukrainian society.