Alla Pugacheva is an iconic Soviet and Russian singer, composer, stage director, producer, film actress, and television presenter. Born on April 15, 1949, in Moscow. People's Artist of the USSR (1991), laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation (1995).
Listening to the old tracks of this artist on official streaming platforms, social media, and other services may indirectly contribute to financing the war — through royalties paid to Russian labels and distributors, which pay taxes to the budget of the Russian Federation.
Alla Pugacheva's stance on the war in Ukraine
Attitude toward the annexation of Crimea
In June 2014, following Russia's annexation of Crimea, she refused to attend a music competition in Yalta that was held as part of Russia Day celebrations. Unlike her husband Maxim Galkin, Pugacheva never visited Crimea following its military occupation.
Departure from Russia and initial statements
At the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Alla Pugacheva left Russia with her husband and children. They initially relocated to Israel, and subsequently moved to Latvia. For a long period, Pugacheva refrained from delivering extensive public commentaries regarding the war.
In September 2022, the singer responded to criticism from pro-Kremlin film director Nikita Mikhalkov, who claimed that artists who fled Russia had erased all their past merits before the nation. The singer posted scenes from Mikhalkov's classic film "Slave of Love" accompanied by the statement: "Gentlemen, you are beasts! Gentlemen, you will be cursed by your own country." She added: "A wonderful film, a wonderful director. Where did the wonderful human being Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov disappear to?"
On September 18, 2022, on her Instagram account, Alla Pugacheva publicly addressed the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, requesting to be enrolled on the official registry of "foreign agents." Her husband Maxim Galkin had already been designated as such by Russian authorities due to his outspoken anti-war position.
She openly expressed solidarity and staunch support for her husband Maxim Galkin, describing him as an "honest, decent, and sincere man" and "a true, incorruptible patriot of Russia." Pugacheva stated that she fully shares his aspiration for a peaceful life and freedom of expression in Russia, while calling for an immediate end to the deaths of human beings "for illusory goals."
In July 2023, Pugacheva attended Laima Vaikule's "Rendezvous" festival in Jurmala, Latvia, which was dedicated to supporting Ukraine.
Numerous commentators observe that Pugacheva's calculated "silence" in response to state propaganda and Kremlin criticism often communicates her condemnation of the war far more powerfully than any spoken words.
Pugacheva's war-related social media posts
Her Instagram frequently speaks on her behalf: while living abroad, she actively attends concerts by anti-war Russian artists — including Zemfira, Boris Grebenshchikov, and Mashina Vremeni — posting photos and videos from these events.
Interview with «Tell Gordeeva» (2025)
In September 2025, an extensive interview was released: «Alla Pugacheva: A Major Interview for Tell Gordeeva». The primary topic of conversation focused on accusations of betrayal leveled against the artist. When asked why she departed and refused to return, Pugacheva responded:
A traitor. But what, exactly, did I betray? I said long ago that I could leave the Motherland, which I love very much, under only one condition: if the Motherland betrays me. It betrayed me.
In the interview, Pugacheva also addressed the topic of the so-called special military operation:
Who likes this war? Probably nobody. Especially when it's a war with brothers.
The singer emphasized that she grew up in the post-WWII era and has always believed that starting new wars is an unforgivable mistake. She declared that she was prepared to defend the Motherland if she understood its objectives, but "when people of our country and others are perishing — it is unbearable." In her view, the actions of the Russian authorities frequently display hubris, which is "a grave sin and the root of catastrophe."
The artist, however, stopped short of explicitly defining who is the aggressor and who is the victim in this war.
Controversial aspects of the interview
A detailed critique of this interview by Ukrainian analysts (source 1, source 2) highlights several controversial aspects in Pugacheva's rhetoric:
- The "brotherly nations" narrative: Pugacheva continues to employ Soviet imperial cliches, characterizing the conflict as "a war with brothers." Such framing risks creating the illusion that Ukrainians and Russians "suffer equally" from this catastrophe, blurring the fundamental boundary between the aggressor state and the victim of invasion.
- Complimentary remarks regarding Kremlin elites: While verbally rejecting war, the Primadonna simultaneously speaks favorably about key figures of the Russian regime. For example, she describes Sergey Kiriyenko, one of the central ideologues of the war, as a "smart guy," acknowledges the "genius" of ardent propagandist Nikita Mikhalkov, and insists that Vladimir Putin himself is an intelligent leader for whom she once served as a campaign confidante.
- Pity for occupying troops: In the interview, the singer draws attention to the suffering of "our boys" (Russian soldiers) and their mothers, shifting the narrative focus away from the war crimes of the Russian Armed Forces toward broad human sympathy for them as "victims of geopolitics."
- Instrument of Soviet nostalgia: The singer's public messaging heavily relies on nostalgic reminiscences of the Soviet cultural past, legendary musical accomplishments, and shared history, helping sustain an emotional bond between segments of the audience and the Russian cultural space.
Despite several controversial remarks, our editorial board places Alla Pugacheva in the «Anti-War» category. The justification rests on her public break with the Russian authorities, her active support for Maxim Galkin, and her open opposition to the continuation of the war.
Because the performer's stance generates significant public debate, we conducted a poll among subscribers of our Telegram channel. The vast majority of respondents supported classifying her in the «Anti-War» category.
What celebrities say about Pugacheva's stance
Who even decided that if someone was once great, their greatness is confirmed by silence at the most pivotal moments in history? Returned just to send her kids to school? Didn't notice what her husband was blathering, didn't say a single word? Why did you come back? Run out of money? I don't understand why they let Pugacheva back in. What on earth is this? Is everything permitted now? You can spew whatever you want about the country, curl your lip in disdain, and then they let you back in? Why don't you put her on TV right now, let her hold a concert? Fall at her feet, greet her with flowers! What sheer bliss: the breadwinner has returned! And at this very moment, our boys are on the front lines. Let me show you real people, not all this scum.
Alla Borisovna! I have always loved you! And I am grateful that your songs were in my life, songs with which I fell in love and broke up, grieved and celebrated... Thank you for being an honest and decent human being, not just a «brilliant singer» #WeArePugacheva
Who is Putin? A minor political figure in the era of Alla Pugacheva.
I suppose that dumping filth on your «beloved» country and snickering at its political decisions and trajectory together with a bunch of emigrants in small European halls is true dignity and patriotism! To be pampered by the authorities, receive state awards all your life, practically assemble a «full cavalier of the order» and stumble right at the final grade. Here, rather, is the truth the reader does not know. But the reader remembers well that this «foreign agent» worked half his life on federal Channel One, and for that exact reason the entire «beloved country» recognized him. I wish you luck.
Alla Pugacheva wrote a very foolish and unfunny paragraph of text requesting to be enrolled as a foreign agent. Well, she wrote it, fine. But there is one phrase of hers I cannot let pass: «…ending the deaths of our boys for illusory goals.» Illusory goals? Going to defend those who are being beaten, murdered, violated — is that an illusory goal? No. On the contrary, everything illusory has now stripped away. The time for harsh truth has arrived. And this truth revealed that much of what we lived in previously was an illusion. And one of them was the illusory glory of singers who proclaimed themselves primadonnas, making the country fall in love with them. A country that, as it turns out, they do not love themselves. Well, when the illusion fades, this lack of love becomes mutual.
I would be thrilled to interview her. Pugacheva is great. But I believe that due to the situation between Russia and Ukraine, that is currently impossible. I am absolutely confident that she is on Ukraine's side. I will try. But she would face vicious persecution in Russia if the primadonna gave me an interview. I understand this and don't want to set people up. But I will make that attempt.
2) Справедливости ради, советую также упомнять в статье, что Пугачёва на своей странице в Instagram чётко осудила ракетный удар России по детской больнице в Киеве: https://meduza.io/amp/news/2024/07/09/bog-terpeliv-no-vsemu-est-predel-alla-pugacheva-o-raketnom-udare-po-detskoy-bolnitse-v-kieve (на всякий случай осуждаю Медузу, как издание, за распространение выгодных российской пропаганде нарративов).
Она чётко сказала что Хутин после затонувшего "Курска" повёл себя как мудак и с тех пор начала терять доверие к нему. А это был 2000 год между прочим, я ещё 10 лет не знал что ..уйло нас всех на..бывало, пока не появился интернет
Ну слушайте, есть немалое количество и тех же *етников, которые также пренебрежительно говорят о х*йле, но при этом поддерживают войну. Когда Алла Борисовна (со всем моим уважением к ней, я ее отношу для себя в категорию "антивоенный молчун") четко скажет "Я на стороне Украины", тогда и можно будет зачесть ей все эти высказывания. Тоже самое касается и других похожих "антивоенных молчунов" вроде Урганта
Типичный *атник, выступающий якобы против войны, но при этом повторяющий ее нарративы, что "Украина/США/инопланетяне хотят нас захватить". Очень жаль, что на сайте лимит по символам, потому что ваш нон-логичный комментарий можно по косточкам разобрать
Быть против войны и выступать за мир — нормально. Но переходить на сторону страны, с которой воюет твоя Родина, даже при несогласии, — это предательство. Все россияне, которые поддерживают Украину, — предатели, независимо от мотивов. Можно быть против власти, можно быть против её решений, можно быть против войны, но быть против своей страны — это предательство. Украина стремится к разгрому и развалу России; поддерживать её россиянам — идиотизм.
Ни одного поста в поддержку Украины. Ра*истка
А ты, я так понимаю, тоже за войну высказываешься? Что ты хорошего сделал? Или сбежал из Украины после начала войны? Она высказалась ПРОТИВ войны, и это главное! Что ты ещё хочешь? Чтобы она на войне погибла, защищая Украину? Сам ра*ист!