"Kirpichi" is a Russian rap-rock band from Saint Petersburg formed in 1995. The frontman and lead vocalist of the group is Vasya Vasin (real name Vasily Vasilyev).
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.
Back in 2013, in an interview with "Zvuki Ru," Vasin admitted that he was a "staunch Putinist":
I support the authorities; I have been a staunch loyalist to Putin from the very beginning.... Without any irony. These are people from Petersburg, and I firmly believe that they conduct good foreign policy. The thing is, I myself come from a background, in a purely family sense, that is familiar with certain diplomatic and foreign policy matters. I see them all, I know the personality type of people like Putin, and I am too confident in the current leadership to rebel.
Following Russia's annexation of Crimea, "Kirpichi" performed on the peninsula — notably at X-Fest in Sevastopol in 2017.
In July 2017, Vasily Vasilyev was entered into the database of the Myrotvorets website for unlawful touring activities in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The band Kirpichi's stance on the war in Ukraine
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, members of the band adopted a stance of silence. Fans of the band complained that "Kirpichi" frontman Vasya Vasin not only failed to voice his stance regarding the Russian military's actions, but also blocked users on social media who asked him in the comments on his page to express an anti-war stance.
In March 2023, however, in an interview on the YouTube channel "Russkiy v khoroshem smysle", Vasin spoke out in support of the so-called SMO and Putin's aggressive policies:
Ashamed of Russia? That can be cured with a belt! I believe what our authorities are saying right now; they present reasoned arguments. My song «Miru mir» [Peace to the World] can be considered an unfortunate mistake; I admit it right now.
I have backed the government from the very start; I support Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and his policies.
The military operation is an utter necessity. We are all small people. It is pointless and unnecessary to meddle in things that are decided on a grand global level.
Я не є фаном їх, тож не слідкував за висловлюваннями. Але пісню "Миру мир" у 2019 чув. І зараз я в а**ї, що враховуючи все сказане в ній вони підтримують війну. Талановиті репери. Дуже шкода.