Chaif is a Soviet and Russian rock band formed by Vladimir Shakhrin, Vladimir Begunov, and Oleg Reshetnikov in 1985.
The position of the band Chaif and Shakhrin on the war in Ukraine
The band «Chaif» supported the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
On February 27, 2022, Shakhrin wrote a post on the band Chaif's Instagram with a vague interpretation of who was to blame for the war, yet repeating typical Kremlin narratives about "hanging Muscovites", "pumping the country with weapons", and the like:
..... What I see and hear is, essentially, a desire to find someone to blame for the situation that has unfolded. I think the list of culprits could be endless and would include both you and me. I think those who jumped on squares shouting 'hang the Muscovite' are to blame, as well as those who didn't take all of this seriously, thinking they would jump around, march with torches, and calm down. Those people vested with power who couldn't find a solution to the conflict in its very inception are to blame. You and I, who elected deputies making decisions we dislike, are to blame. Those on Bankova Street who decided to place their bet on pumping the country with weapons and anti-Russian policies are to blame. Those who wrote funny comments under videos of the burning Trade Unions Building in Odesa are to blame. Those people in the Kremlin who allowed the situation to reach the boiling point are to blame. Those on both sides who made big money off the smoldering conflict are to blame....
In April 2022, the musicians played a concert for wounded soldiers of the Russian occupation forces.
Later it became known that the band members constantly collect humanitarian aid for the occupiers.
In December 2022, the band «Chaif» sent an autographed guitar to the "special military operation zone", ending the press conference on the matter with one of the favorite slogans of Z-patriots: «Work, brothers!».
In July 2022, «Chaif» participated in recording the patriotic music video «Ya Ostayus» ("I'm Staying") as an answer to Russian stars who supported Ukraine and went abroad.
Vladimir Shakhrin expressed his civic stance most clearly in an interview with «KP-Yekaterinburg» in October 2022:
Now is not the time to succumb to despondency. That won't bring the end of the special operation any closer by a single minute. Whereas, precisely active deeds such as helping our boys can bring its conclusion closer. At this moment the situation is such that the special operation can only end with a victory of one of the sides. And, of course, we all want that to be a victory for Russia.
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