Dabro is a popular musical group formed in 2013, consisting of two brothers — Ivan and Mikhail Zasidkevich. The artists were born and raised in the town of Kurakhove (Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine). In 2015, the brothers moved to Kazan (Russia), where they currently live and work, having achieved widespread popularity thanks to their hit song «Youth» («Юность»).
Listening to this artist's tracks on official streaming platforms, social media, and other services indirectly contributes to financing the war — through taxes paid to the budget of the Russian Federation.
Prior to the full-scale invasion, the musical act cultivated the image of «simple neighborhood guys», deliberately distancing themselves from political topics. Even though their home region had been in a conflict zone since 2014, the brothers focused on building their careers in the Russian entertainment industry, actively touring across cities in both Russia and Ukraine and taking part in federal television shows and music awards.
Dabro's stance on the war in Ukraine
After February 24, 2022, the group Dabro opted for a tactic of complete silence regarding Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Despite their Ukrainian origins, the artists did not issue a single statement condemning the invasion.
In March, they posted on their Telegram channel announcing the cancellation of their Ukrainian tour and the postponement of concerts in Russia (choosing not to specify the true cause):
Regarding the tour in Ukraine, which was supposed to take place right now from March 6 to 15: we hope that a time will soon come when we can see you. We will share more specific information later. Regarding concerts in Russia: Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Yaroslavl, and Vladimir are postponed to later dates.
In the same month, Mikhail Zasidkevich published a post on Instagram (later deleted) featuring an archival photo from Donetsk Oblast with his brother when he was 10 years old, sharing his emotional state:
A tragedy of unimaginable proportions! Every day I am in touch with friends and relatives who are sitting in basements, hiding from shelling and bombardment in garages and subway stations. Going out of the house for water or groceries at the risk of their lives. This is not a movie about war, this is our time! I would like to write how painful this is for me, but those people are far worse off than I am. All of this breeds aggression among ordinary people, aggression toward one another. Aggression and hatred of Ukrainians toward Russians, of Russians toward Ukrainians! The very people who not long ago spoke of each other so warmly! Ordinary people. I want to keep kindness inside myself, not trade it for aggression. And I urge you to do the same! Try to preserve faith, common sense, and love in your hearts. I am praying
However, even in this message, the aggressor was never named, and the post itself was aimed more at noting personal emotional turmoil than expressing a civic stance. Subsequently, all mentions of the war disappeared from the band's social media channels, replaced by standard entertainment content.
Key facts regarding the artists' current stance:
- Ignoring the tragedy of their hometown: The town of Kurakhove, where the brothers were born, has been almost entirely destroyed as a result of Russian shelling. The artists have made no comment regarding the destruction of their homeland.
- Active work in the Russian Federation: The group continues to perform at major Russian venues, including festivals and concerts organized with the support of Russian state institutions.
Today, Ivan and Mikhail Zasidkevich's stance is regarded by the public as silent consent to the Kremlin's actions. Refusing to publicly condemn the war allowed them to preserve their careers and income in Russia.
