«AIGEL» (Аигел) is a Russian hip-hop and electronic duo formed by vocalist and songwriter Aigel Gaysina and musician and producer Ilya Baramiya, a member of 3H Company.
AIGEL's Stance on the War in Ukraine
«AIGEL» adopted an unequivocal anti-war stance from the very start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
First Statements on the War
On February 22, 2022, two days before the start of the full-scale invasion, Aigel Gaysina posted a photograph of her daughter playing in the snow and digging a «trench.» In her post, she wrote: «Will the old men really blow up the planet in the end?»
On February 24, on the day the full-scale invasion began, «AIGEL» announced the postponement of one of their song releases, adding: «today is a terrifying day» and the hashtag #notowar (#нетвойне).
On the same day, Aigel Gaysina published a separate anti-war address in which she urged Putin to stop the war.
Anti-War Position and Aid to the Persecuted in Russia
On March 10, 2022, «AIGEL» stated that they intended to remain in Russia and perform there for as long as possible.
In September 2022, the duo participated in a charity auction to support people persecuted in Russia under laws concerning «discrediting» the army and disseminating «fakes» about the Russian military. The musicians auctioned off their drum machine.
On May 25, 2022, three months into the full-scale invasion, Aigel published an emotional post describing the deep agony and horror of the war, feelings of helplessness and guilt before those killed, and dread over the war's long-term consequences for people and Russian society:
War grows inside like a horrific plant... during the first month the pain was unbearable, my heart ached so terribly, all I could do was weep for days on end... With horror I imagine how young armless and legless boys and older men in military uniform will soon appear in the country's subways and train cars.
Concert Cancellations and Emigration
On September 27, 2022, «AIGEL» announced the cancellation of their concerts in Russia after the group was placed on a semi-official list of «undesirable artists» on September 1. According to the musicians, Russian concert venues were forced to cancel performances under pressure from the authorities.
Later, in an interview with The Moscow Times, the artists emphasized that they do not plan to return due to their disagreement with the government's trajectory and the war it unleashed:
I don't believe I'll return. I don't believe the changes I need will happen in the next century,» Aigel Gaysina noted. Ilya Baramiya added: «Oh, I don't want to return to any Russia at all!
In an interview with Yury Dud released on November 16, 2023, Aigel Gaysina explained why the duo backed Ukraine. She stated that one cannot attack a sovereign country and murder people, emphasizing that she does not consider Ukrainians to be Nazis.
The musicians also explained that they were forced to leave Russia due to state pressure and the impossibility of speaking out and working freely inside the country. At the time of the interview, Aigel and her family lived in Germany, while Ilya Baramiya resided in Montenegro.
One Year of Full-Scale War
On February 24, 2023, on the anniversary of the launch of the full-scale invasion, «AIGEL» published images commemorating the date with the caption STOP WAR.
On the same day, Aigel Gaysina wrote of «a year of continuous grief, terror, shame, and helplessness.»
Aigel Gaysina's Statements About the War
In an interview with the independent broadcaster DW Russian on May 4, 2024, Aigel Gaysina reaffirmed her anti-war position:
How long will it take for Ukraine to forgive? How many centuries, how long to wait, which generation of my family will ever see normal relations?
She also declared:
I am part of this culture, part of the people, and I want to share both this shame and this pain with the people who grew up alongside me.
On July 6, 2024, in an interview with TV Rain («Dozhd»), Aigel stated:
Russia committed a crime, and it must answer for it.
At the same time, the singer noted that she does not judge artists who compromised with Russian authorities, attributing it to varied personal circumstances. According to her, if the lives of her loved ones depended on such a compromise, she might have made a similar deal herself, but she was fortunate enough to have the means to leave Russia.
Anti-War Activities Abroad
In exile, the duo actively supports anti-war causes. On June 4, 2024, the musicians performed at a major concert in Berlin in memory of Alexey Navalny, where chants of «No to War!» and messages of solidarity with political prisoners were voiced.
On February 20, 2025, «AIGEL» premiered their music video for the track «Gas» («Газ»)—a profound anti-war manifesto on the tragedy of war and the cheapening of human life. The video metaphorically portrays how soldiers killed at the front are turned into raw commodities («gas that the fatherland sells off for pennies»), leaving their families alone with inconsolable grief.
The group «AIGEL» continues its creative career abroad, maintaining a steadfast public anti-war position and condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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