Ekaterina Kuznetsova is a Ukrainian theater and film actress and television presenter. She played leading roles in numerous Ukrainian and Russian television series and films. She was born on July 12, 1987, in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR.
From 2010 onwards, the actress lived and worked in Moscow. She played one of the leading roles in the hit television series "Kitchen." She was married to Russian actor Yevgeny Pronin (2014–2015). Despite living in Russia, Kateryna never planned to exchange her Ukrainian citizenship for Russian, and consistently said that she was proud to be Ukrainian.
The actress articulated her position regarding the occupation of Crimea in an interview with the portal Meduza:
Back then I was not very deeply immersed in that entire story. I did not understand the consequences it could bring. I feel ashamed of that. At that time I was pursuing the fulfillment of my dream, which was more important to me during that period of my life. But I was in touch with my parents, and in my heart I stood in solidarity with my country. When Crimea was annexed, I received many offers to film there [in Crimea], but I refused. The last time I was in Crimea was 2008 or 2009.
Ekaterina Kuznetsova's Stance on the War in Ukraine
At the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ekaterina Kuznetsova was in Spain. The actress stated that she would never return to Russia, despite still owning an apartment there. On February 28, she published an anti-war post on Instagram:
Ekaterina terminated all contracts and ended her career in Russia, emphasizing that she cannot continue working in a country that is waging war against her homeland. Ekaterina's common-law husband, Russian businessman Maxim Aplin, also spoke out against the war and left Russia.
Kuznetsova also declined to participate in filming the second season of the popular Russian series "Vampires of Midland," which she commented on as follows:
Can one place filming in a TV series on the same scale as your parents being killed, shells being fired at your home? Without question, acting is a huge part of my life. It is a role that I love very much. If we are speaking simply about the creative aspect. But that cannot stand on equal footing with what is happening in my country.
I left Russia, and I do not plan to return. At least, not to the kind of Russia that exists today. That is completely out of the question because… You know, a friend of mine told me regarding the filming of 'Vampires of Midland' — he is a big fan of the show — he said: 'It feels as if you let them down. But in reality they let you down, if we speak in a global sense.' Perhaps there is truth to that.
Currently, Ekaterina Kuznetsova lives between Spain and Ukraine, actively starring in Ukrainian films and TV series. She openly supports Ukraine: calls for donations to humanitarian aid, shares her anti-war stance on social networks, and describes the war as a horrific crime against humanity.
The actress has fully switched to speaking the Ukrainian language — both in daily life and in her professional career.
