Ekaterina Varnava is a Russian theater and film actress, TV presenter, KVN alumna, and former participant and choreographer of the comedy television show "Comedy Woman" (2008–2020). From 2014 to 2017, she served as co-host of the show "Khto Zverkhu?" on Ukrainian "Novy Kanal". Born on December 9, 1984, in Moscow, RSFSR.
In May 2017, she was entered into the database of the "Myrotvorets" website for deliberately violating Ukraine's state border. In 2016, she entered the territory of the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea outside authorized border crossing points. The performer was banned from entering Ukraine for a period of 5 years. The actress commented on the entry ban as follows:
Comedy Woman and I were in Crimea on tour, and no one knew that this could lead to such repercussions. Following that, we held a major concert in Kyiv. Then reports appeared across the media that I was barred from entering Ukraine.... I have my own audience in Ukraine, friends, and loved ones. It is very upsetting; I am not involved in politics at all. I am truly sorry. I am counting down the days until the entry ban expires. The moment it expires, I will immediately travel to Kyiv if that is within the bounds of Ukrainian law... I had a fantastic time there, nobody mistreated me or offended me. Kyiv is one of my favorite cities
"Novy Kanal" appealed to court seeking to overturn the entry ban to Ukraine for Ekaterina Varnava. On March 18, 2020, the TV host was officially removed from the list of persons posing a threat to Ukraine's national security.
Ekaterina Varnava's Stance on the War in Ukraine
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ekaterina Varnava posted an anti-war statement on her Instagram (subsequently deleted):
We are shocked, we are in agony, we feel ashamed. Why is all this happening? For what purpose? There will be no victors here if this continues. I am terrified to my core by the media and those people who claim to be happy about the start of all this, proudly commenting and supporting what is happening, calling it 'defense' and 'liberation'.... Good Lord, why on earth is all this happening? How can this whole horror be stopped? NOBODY WANTS WAR! PERSONALLY, I WANT ONLY PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP!
On social media, the TV presenter made veiled remarks indicating that for every holiday in the world, she wishes for only one thing — for the so-called SMO to end:
For my fucking birthday, for New Year's, for Christmas, for every single holiday in the world, there is one wish: Dear Lord, please, let this end
Blacklists
Following her condemnation of the so-called SMO, the artist departed Russia and flew to Armenia. However, after some time she returned to Russia and resumed active participation in various projects in Moscow. For her political expressions, Ekaterina faced tangible reprisals — she was fired from the Crave Theater, where she played the starring role in the production "Absolyutno Naga" ("Absolutely Naked"), and she was also removed from the cast of the TV series "Tsikady" ("Cicadas").
2025 Interview
In September 2025, an interview with Ekaterina Varnava was published on the Radio Van YouTube channel, in which the comedian reflected on her relationship with Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
If we are speaking of past life... He is one of the most professional people I have ever worked with on camera, on any production set. A phenomenal human being. Exceptionally open, exceptionally cheerful. He treats service staff and everyone around with immense warmth and genuine care. He has a massive team; he always bore an enormous amount of responsibility. He is a great artist, producer, and person. And his wife is wonderful... I think he never originally planned to enter politics. He had completely different goals and tasks. Everything was going wonderfully for him as it was... But things turned out the way they did. Ukraine is an extraordinary country in that regard. They were able to accomplish that. Could something like that ever happen in our country? Of course not!
She also shared her emotional state during the outbreak of the war:
Nothing frightens me as deeply as war. The best cabaret show I ever gave, oddly enough, was during the period when the war broke out. Never had my mind operated with such speed and wit, although I was completely dead inside... I was crying incessantly and could not stop... At first everyone was in such a coma, simply terrified to talk. It wasn't just a toad suffocating your throat... All your life you were taught that this should never be, and when it suddenly happened, you felt as if you were trapped in some surreal movie. I never want to experience that again...
Ekaterina also stated that she now lives and works in Cyprus and has sold her apartment in Moscow.
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