Alexander Gudkov on the war

Gudkov's stance on the war in Ukraine

First anti-war statements

Despite years of working on Russian federal television, Aleksandr Gudkov publicly spoke out against the war after the start of the full-scale invasion. On the day the invasion began, he admitted that he felt ashamed of what was happening, especially because February 24 is his birthday:

I am ashamed that I was born on this day #notowar

Later on the same day, the following post was published:

... This morning, by launching military operations, all tenets of the Christian faith were crushed and the commandments violated, the core Christian truth of total forgiveness trampled, and faith in goodness killed. The question is: why do you go to Christian churches? If your God is evil.

These posts were later deleted.

Parody of the song "I Am Russian"

Gudkov released a music video for the song "Ya Uzkiy" (I Am Narrow), an obvious parody of the patriotic track "I Am Russian" by singer SHAMAN. In his version of the song, Gudkov satirized the narrow-mindedness of Russians:

I am narrow — I am not shaped like an egg. I am narrow — my shoulders are narrower than my face. I am narrow — and I am lucky. I am narrow — to spite everyone broad.

The canceling of Gudkov in Russia

Conflict with Mizulina

After SHAMAN's YouTube channel was blocked in July 2024, Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the Safe Internet League, decided to target Gudkov, pointing out that his parody version of "I Am Russian" on YouTube remained intact:

In 52 regions of Russia, the Russophobe Gudkov is preparing to showcase his show—a man who spoke out against the SMO, urged donations to the AFU, claimed he was ashamed to have been born on February 24, and parodied the song «I Am Russian», thereby insulting people on the basis of belonging to the Russian nation. The list of his anti-Russian accomplishments could go on forever. Why has this figure still not been declared a foreign agent? Why host this traitor's shows at a time when our boys at the front are fighting for the future of Russia? We will appeal to the Prosecutor General's Office requesting an investigation.

Mizulina urged the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate comedian Aleksandr Gudkov and ban his show "Dungeons of Chicken Curry" in 52 regions of Russia at once. Z-bloggers rallied against Gudkov, accusing him of Russophobia and urging donations to the AFU, claims that were unfounded.

Inclusion in the artist blacklist

In September 2024, the comedian was included in the blacklist of artists whose performances authorities consider undesirable in Russia due to their anti-war stance.

Life after leaving Russian television

Aleksandr Gudkov no longer appears on television; he can now only participate in projects on social media. According to recent reports, the comedian currently resides in Armenia, but periodically visits Russia to host private corporate gigs. Taxes from the comedian's activities flow into the Russian budget, indirectly sponsoring the war in Ukraine.

Criticism for ties with Z-patriots

In July 2026, Aleksandr Gudkov hosted as one of the presenters at the wedding of pro-Kremlin blogger Ida Galich in North Ossetia. Gudkov partied in the company of vocal war supporters and Z-propagandists (Mariya Chadina, Luka Yebkov, etc.).

This event sparked a wave of backlash from both sides of the political spectrum:

• Z-patriots wondered why wives of deployed soldiers and so-called "patriots" were dancing at the same event with someone who parodied the song "I Am Russian" and claimed to be ashamed of February 24.
• The opposition-leaning audience described the celebration as a "feast of hypocrisy". Spectators and independent journalists were stunned by how easily Gudkov's anti-war stance was discarded at a social gathering with people who only yesterday demanded his banning. Social networks actively debated how such actions devalue his initial anti-war statements.

Aleksandr Gudkov himself made no comment regarding his participation in the event or the criticism directed at him.