Comedian Yevhen Smoryhin Officially Granted Ukrainian Citizenship
Yevhen Smoryhin, a comedian and actor from the well-known Ukrainian comedy project 'Diesel Show,' has been granted Ukrainian citizenship after passing a mandatory exam on the Ukrainian language, history, and Constitution. He took the test three years ago and achieved an impressive score of 97 out of 100. However, despite this high mark, he did not receive his Ukrainian passport until 2022—an issue that became especially pressing after the start of the full-scale invasion.
Smoryhin was born in Belarus and remained a citizen of his home country until now. In his own words, his excellent exam result came from prior familiarity with the language, as he had already gained experience translating his own work. He explained that he was commissioned to translate seven seasons of the sketch show 'Na Trokh' from Russian into Ukrainian, working for hours in a studio with an editor. This intensive process—covering around 150 episodes over multiple sessions—helped him achieve fluency.
'I already knew Ukrainian because I translated myself from Russian. There was an order to translate seven seasons of the sketch show 'Na Trokh,' and my editor and I worked in a studio where I translated myself. That’s seven seasons, about 150 episodes. I went to the studio about 30 times, working 5–6 hours each time. That experience taught me to speak freely.'
— Yevhen Smoryhin
Smoryhin also spoke about what motivated his decision to pursue citizenship, pointing to events in his native Belarus and their direct impact on his life in Ukraine.
'When troops from my native Belarus moved in and missiles were fired at my home in Ukraine, that became a very sharp issue for me.'
— Yevhen Smoryhin
The news of Smoryhin receiving Ukrainian citizenship has been met with widespread approval. Many people have publicly congratulated him, praising both his determination and his professional achievements. One comment read: 'Congratulations to Mr. Yevhen! Respect and admiration for this wonderful actor!'
Smoryhin’s story illustrates how personal circumstances and a professional career can intertwine when it comes to life-changing decisions like citizenship. His journey also highlights the growing importance of citizenship for individuals caught in difficult geopolitical situations. In the context of war and regional instability, choosing to change one’s nationality is not just a personal step—it reflects broader social and political shifts. It may also signal the increasing integration of people from different backgrounds into Ukrainian society, contributing to the country’s cultural diversity.