Ukrainian Celebrities Who Fled to Russia: Passports, Propaganda, and Backlash
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a number of Ukrainian celebrities chose to relocate to Russia. Their subsequent acquisition of Russian citizenship and vocal support for the war has drawn intense scrutiny and condemnation. This situation highlights the profound ethical dilemmas faced by public figures during wartime, where personal choices can be seen as acts of national betrayal.
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Oksana Bairak, a well-known Ukrainian film director and screenwriter born in Simferopol, fled to Russia after the invasion began. Her filmography includes titles such as 'Nothing Happens Twice', 'Share Your Happiness', and 'Female Intuition'.
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Yurii Bardash, a music producer and musician, escaped to Russia via Georgia and later obtained Russian citizenship. The Security Service of Ukraine has since charged him, and a court has sentenced him in absentia to 10 years in prison. Bardash is known for producing acts like Quest Pistols and Gryby (Грибы).
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Taisiia Povaliy, a popular singer, received Russian citizenship on August 24, 2023. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed personal sanctions against her for a period of five years. She has repeatedly expressed a desire for 'Kyiv to become Russian' so she can return to her estate.
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Ani Lorak, whose real name is Karolina Kuiek, has not performed in Ukraine since 2017. In 2024, she was stripped of the honorary title 'People's Artist of Ukraine'. In June 2025, the singer obtained a Russian passport, an act that further outraged many of her former fans.
Other Ukrainian Personalities Who Left
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Oleg Vynnyk departed for Germany at the start of the full-scale invasion, where he has resided since 2000.
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Dmytro Stupka left Ukraine in 2021. On February 23, 2022, he attempted to return to Kyiv but was forced to go back to the United States due to closed borders.
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Tetiana Denysova also left Ukraine at the beginning of the invasion and had received a Russian passport in December 2021.
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Ruslan Khanumak traveled to the United States in 2024. After a brief return to Ukraine, he departed abroad once more.
The actions of these celebrities have sparked significant controversy both within Ukraine and internationally. Their decisions underscore a deep cultural and political rift, forcing a re-evaluation of artists' roles and responsibilities during a national crisis. The public backlash serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved when fame intersects with geopolitics.