Zelensky Strips Polunin of Citizenship: Reasons Behind the Decree Concerning the Former Ballet Star

Sergei Polunin was born in Kherson and studied at the Kyiv Choreographic School. He became the youngest premier of the Royal Ballet in London, quickly gaining popularity and becoming a legend of his generation.

Ukrainian dancer Sergei Polunin, a former soloist of the Royal Ballet in London who gained worldwide fame, has been stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship amid numerous scandals due to his political support for Russian President Putin and work in Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the relevant decree in this matter.

Move to Russia and Political Activity

In 2012, Polunin moved to Russia, where he worked in a Moscow theater. In 2018, he obtained Russian citizenship, expressing support for Putin and asserting that Russia had always been good for him. He also lost support due to his scandalous statements, including homophobic and sexist posts on Instagram.

Scandals and International Career

Polunin sparked scandals with his political and social statements, leading to cancellations of his performances. He announced his intention to leave Russia after which he was banned from performing at a concert with his wife and lost support from the Kremlin due to his remarks.

In 2024, after being released from the theater in Sevastopol, Polunin left Russia and moved to Israel, where he is trying to obtain Israeli citizenship.

After numerous scandals due to his political support for Putin and controversial statements, Sergei Polunin was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship, but he continues his active dance activities, seeking new opportunities on the international stage.