Concerts Canceled in Chernivtsi and Novodnistrovsk After Anastasiia Prykhodko’s Controversial Post About 'Kyiv Russian'

Anastasiia Prykhodko’s Performances Called Off

According to Главком: Ukrainian singer Anastasiia Prykhodko sparked a major backlash with a post on the social media platform Threads. As a result, her concert in Chernivtsi was canceled after local residents boycotted the event, citing language-related concerns. Additionally, a second show scheduled in Novodnistrovsk was scrapped due to low ticket sales.

Prykhodko’s post drew over 6,000 comments. In it, she wrote:

Hi, I’m Anastasiia Prykhodko and I speak Kyiv Russian. Questions?

This sparked outrage among many in the public. She later attempted to clarify:

Hi, I’m Anastasiia Prykhodko. For those especially worked up, I also speak my native language-Ukrainian. Questions?

Reactions and Fallout

The Chernivtsi concert was canceled due to public protests, with residents opposing the singer’s performance. According to Prykhodko’s PR representative, 'a minor scandal arose: Anastasiia planned to come to Chernivtsi, but locals said “no” and boycotted, so the team decided to fully cancel the concert to avoid triggering further conflict.' He also noted that the language issue is currently a sensitive topic and expressed hope that the situation would stabilize, allowing the singer to perform in Chernivtsi in the future.

The Novodnistrovsk concert, originally scheduled for April 27, 2026, was also called off due to insufficient ticket sales. The cancellation in Chernivtsi was confirmed by Prykhodko’s PR representative, while local radio reported the Novodnistrovsk cancellation.

Prykhodko also emphasized her ability to speak Ukrainian. Addressing the language debate, she stated:

Hi! I am ethnically Russian, my native language is Russian, I speak Ukrainian and I’m proud of it.

However, social media users raised questions and criticism regarding her use of Russian, pointing out issues such as:

• Using 'speak in Ukrainian' is a calque from Russian.
• One should say 'speak Ukrainian.'

Overall, the controversy surrounding Prykhodko’s concerts and her language-related remarks has generated widespread public debate and divided opinions.

This incident highlights the complexity of language politics in Ukraine, a topic that remains a sensitive and significant aspect of public life, especially in the realm of cultural events. The concert cancellations reflect society’s heightened sensitivity to language identity and the importance of considering community sentiment when organizing such performances. At the same time, the public’s reaction to the singer’s comments underscores how carefully public figures must choose their words to avoid provoking negative responses from their audience.

The recent controversy surrounding Anastasiia Prykhodko is reminiscent of the backlash faced by other cultural figures in Ukraine, such as the producers of the travel show the revival of 'Heads or Tails', which also sparked public outrage over language choices. This highlights ongoing tensions in the region regarding linguistic identity and cultural representation, making it essential to understand the broader implications of such incidents.