Personal Views and Political Ties
Director Semen Horov has shared new details about his personal acquaintance with Ukrainian singer Taisiia Povaliy and her political stance. According to Horov, Povaliy was a trusted representative of Viktor Yanukovych and backed him during his time in power. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the singer did not condemn the aggression and instead continued living and working in Russia. The Vinnytsia City Court sentenced her in absentia to 12 years in prison and barred her from holding certain positions for 15 years. The court also ordered the confiscation of Povaliy's property in favor of the state.
Horov noted that after the Euromaidan Revolution, Povaliy moved to Russia, where she took part in propaganda events, justified the war against Ukraine, and spread anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. In 2023, she obtained Russian citizenship, and in 2024, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine ruled to seize Povaliy's assets for state revenue. This seizure included:
- land plots and real estate in the Kyiv region;
- vehicles;
- weapons;
- property rights to nine musical works.
In 2025, the property rights to these works were officially transferred to the state of Ukraine.
The Case of Ani Lorak
Discussing the situation, Semen Horov pointed out that Povaliy never hid her political views. 'She didn't hide them back then either—she was Yanukovych's trusted representative and supported him. But at the time, it was still seen as part of democracy: a person has the right to their beliefs,' Horov said. However, he also stressed that he cannot understand why, after everything that happened, she began speaking against her own country: 'But when, after all that has happened, you start saying things against your own country, against the people who live and die here—I cannot understand that.'
Ani Lorak, another Ukrainian singer, has also continued living and working in Russia since the start of the full-scale war. She has effectively disappeared from the Ukrainian show business scene but told Russian media that she faced 'pressure' and 'bullying' in Ukraine. Lorak mentioned Tina Karol in connection with this alleged bullying. Semen Horov expressed the view that the situation with Ani Lorak and Povaliy exemplifies cognitive dissonance—where people try to justify their actions while avoiding painful questions about their beliefs and moral principles. 'In psychology, this is called 'cognitive dissonance,' which gives rise to phrases like 'it's not so clear-cut,' 'I'm apolitical,' 'nothing depends on me,'' Horov concluded.
The cases of Taisiia Povaliy and Ani Lorak highlight the complex interplay between culture, politics, and personal convictions during wartime. Both singers, who once enjoyed successful careers in Ukraine, now find themselves at the center of public debate over their actions after the conflict began. This underscores the importance of understanding the role public figures play in shaping public opinion and their responsibilities toward their own country. At the same time, it raises questions about how personal beliefs can influence creativity and career paths amid challenging political realities.
As the legal repercussions for public figures continue to unfold, the case of Olena Topolia's alleged blackmail illustrates the complex intersection of personal actions and political consequences in Ukraine. This situation is particularly relevant as it sheds light on the broader implications of celebrity involvement in political matters and their aftermath.