Ukrainian singer Ivan Dorn, who has been abroad since the onset of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, has once again found himself at the center of a scandal.
This time, the artist participated in an event with Russian performers in Berlin, which sparked mixed reactions among the Ukrainian audience. On his Instagram page, Dorn shared footage from the party, and a video of his performance quickly spread across the internet.
It has come to light that the event was organized by Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov, who is referred to as an opposition figure in Russia. However, Serebrennikov, while condemning the war, has also stated the need to support the families of Russian soldiers, raising doubts about his true stance.
On stage, alongside Dorn, were Russian cultural figures such as Chulpan Khamatova, Varvara Shmykova, Nikita Kukushkin, Gosha Kudrenko, and others.
One particularly discussed moment was when the concert participants remembered the late Russian actress Evgenia Dobrovolskaya. In her time, she supported the annexation of Crimea, illegally visited the peninsula, and openly demonstrated her loyalty to the Kremlin's policies.
During the performance, Ivan Dorn appeared on stage with Gosha Kudrenko and Nikita Yelenyev. All three held placards reading "refugees" and "exiles".
Notably, unlike his Russian counterparts, Dorn performed songs in the Ukrainian language. Concluding his performance, the artist stated, "May we prevail."
Nevertheless, participating in a concert with Russians, even those who position themselves as "good Russians," has drawn a wave of criticism towards Dorn. Many Ukrainians believe that supporting such events is unacceptable in wartime, as Ukrainians are losing their lives daily in the fight against Russian aggression.