AI-Generated Video by Shaman Features Every Russian ‘Foreign Agent’

Shaman Drops New Music Video

According to Главком: Russian singer Yaroslav Dronov, better known by his stage name Shaman, has released a music video for his track 'Russia – Mother'. The clip uses artificial intelligence to depict a number of Russian artists who have been officially labeled as 'foreign agents' by the authorities. Those featured include:

• Maxim Galkin
• Zemfira
• Noize MC
• Morgenshtern
• Oxxxymiron
• Ilya Prusikin
• Ilya Varlamov
• Yuri Dud
• Alexei Venediktov
• Semyon Slepakov
• Mikhail Khodorkovsky
• Oleg Tinkov
• Katerina Shulman

The video closes with a disclaimer about the use of materials related to foreign agents in Russia.

Maxim Galkin Fires Back

Maxim Galkin has publicly voiced his outrage over the unauthorized use of his image in the video. He also accused Shaman of musical plagiarism, stating:

“Not only did he take people without asking, but he also ripped off music from Adele.” – Maxim Galkin

Galkin added that 'it seems to me that in the titanic effort to win popular acclaim, artist Dronov accidentally stumbles upon unintended meanings.'

Shaman, for his part, explained that his goal was to show that the Russian people do not forgive betrayal. 'There they perform against Russia for money, but in my video they sing for Russia for free. Because only here are they still allowed to say 'Russia – Mother',' he noted.

It is also worth noting that Shaman recently canceled his concerts in Belgorod, citing the alleged encirclement of the venue by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This move further underscores the backdrop of current events in the country.

This incident and Shaman’s new video highlight the tense atmosphere within Russia’s cultural landscape, where issues of patriotism and attitudes toward foreign agents provoke strong reactions. The use of AI technology to generate content, along with the responses from the artists involved, reflects the complex interplay between creativity and politics in modern Russia. Despite sharp conflicts with his peers, Shaman continues to actively produce music, which may signal his determination to stay in the spotlight during a turbulent period for the nation.