Danila Kozlovsky is a Russian theater and film actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter; Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. He was born on May 3, 1985, in Moscow, USSR.
In March 2017, he was entered into the database of the "Myrotvorets" center for illegally crossing the state border of Ukraine to film the movies "Viking" and "The Crew" (Ekipazh) in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Danila Kozlovsky's stance on the war in Ukraine
Spoke out against the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On his Instagram page, the actor published anti-war statements:
24.02.2022
Fear and shame... negotiate! Stop! NO TO WAR
27.02.2022
What is happening right now is a catastrophe. In every sense. Human, humanistic, political, economic. You name it. I love my country. With all my heart. And I have always believed that true patriotism is the determination to speak the truth about what you genuinely feel and experience. To my great personal disappointment, I have by no means always displayed this quality. But now is the moment when one must speak. That point of no return that we are crossing—literally in tanks. And I write this text not for the sake of hype or God forbid a desire to fan the flames of aggression further, but because it genuinely aches. Now people are asking the question that has become legendary: «Where were you all these eight years?» One immediately wants to ask, «And where were you, exactly?», but answering a question with a question is bad manners, so I will answer differently. I don't know... I didn't see, didn't understand, or didn't want to see and understand... I was indifferent, focused exclusively on my own life, when we should have been calling for reason and peace by all possible means. I naively assumed that all of this would end and those at the top would surely reach an agreement, since smart people sit up there. They wouldn't permit war. They permitted it. It is terrifying. It hurts. It is unbearably sad. And shameful. Including for myself. For my silence and indifference all these years. But can violence truly bring peace? Violence begets violence.
How is it possible in the 21st century, in this time rattled and unnerved by COVID and other conflicts, to resolve such issues through «military operations» against a brotherly nation? Why were so many so mistaken in their forecasts? Solely because this was completely impossible to imagine. That Kharkiv, Kyiv, and other magnificent cities would echo in war dispatches, and our Ukrainian friends in phone calls would ask in despair «why,» while we mumbled something incoherent in response. This affects every single one of us without exception, because curses, hatred, and accusations clouding our atmosphere, emanating from ourselves, are what any war inevitably breeds. People are dying... soldiers, peaceful civilians. Missiles strike residential buildings. And here you don't need any understanding of politics to realize with absolute certainty that no justification exists for this. Respected Mr. President, forgive me for addressing you directly, but only you hold the power to stop this horrific calamity. We are not those «citizens who oppose,» but residents of our own country, which we love more than anything in the world and wish only peace and tranquility. My name is Danila Kozlovsky and I am against war. I say this on my own and solely on my own behalf, straight from my heart.
Pressure over anti-war stance
The Moscow Prosecutor's Office initiated an inquiry into the artist over his anti-war stance following a complaint filed by activist Borodin. Theatrical productions featuring Kozlovsky began being canceled citing "various reasons."
Lev Dodin, artistic director of the Maly Drama Theatre (MDT), was issued an ultimatum: dismiss actors Danila Kozlovsky and Kseniya Rappoport to "punish them for anti-war remarks." Dodin refused—whereupon consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor shut down the theater citing "sanitary violations." Kozlovsky then announced that he was taking leave until the end of the year due to personal circumstances, and productions starring him were suspended.
Following relentless attacks by Borodin and pro-war Z-activists, the actor proved in court that he was in fact not guilty of "discrediting the Russian Armed Forces." To accomplish this, Kozlovsky publicly professes love for Russia and candidly stated that he works and pays taxes into the Russian budget, thereby funding the war. The actor won the lawsuit—Borodin was ordered to apologize, issue a public retraction, and pay Kozlovsky 1 ruble in damages.
The artist's anti-war posts were subsequently deleted.
In 2023, the artist launched a European tour with his one-man show "FRANK". In March 2025, Danila announced a new production titled "CHECK UP".
Return to the Russian stage
In May 2025, Danila Kozlovsky returned to the Russian stage. On May 3, his show "Frank" played to a sold-out house at the Estrada Theatre in Moscow, with tickets for June dates selling out in 24 hours. The artist's grand comeback was commented on by Ksenia Sobchak:
Danila Kozlovsky will perform in Russia for the first time in three years. He was canceled for anti-war views, but the right calls were made to the right places, an arrangement was reached, and no further trouble will be caused for him. On May 3, the actor will perform his solo show «Frank». On that same day, he turns 40. I am very happy for Danila.
Performance at SPIEF-2026
In June 2026, Danila Kozlovsky performed a show as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026). SPIEF is one of the premier state image-building projects of the Russian authorities, held under Vladimir Putin's direct patronage.
Participation of artists in SPIEF events is viewed by many as indirect endorsement of Russia's official state trajectory, including its military invasion of Ukraine. By accepting the invitation to perform at the forum, the artist effectively acquiesced to becoming an instrument of the system that legitimizes the country's isolation and wartime domestic agenda.
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