Kyivstoner on the war

Kyivstoner's position on the war in Ukraine

Why Kyivstoner left Ukraine

At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyivstoner was in Kyiv with his family. Five days later, the artist left the country for the United States, explaining his decision as follows:

I sat in Kyiv for five days thinking about what I could do and what benefit I could bring being on the front lines. None. Join the Territorial Defense and sing songs? I'd rather feel ashamed that I left than feel ashamed of failing to protect my family

Anti-war appeal to Russians

On March 18, 2022, the artist recorded an anti-war appeal on TikTok (which later became unavailable) addressed to the Russian people:

There is no «special operation», there is a war started by your authorities invading our land. They are destroying our cities, killing our people, and yours too. Just innocent people, it's horrific. .. Nobody is hitting military targets! They are blindly bombing cities, residential apartment buildings, maternity wards, theaters. On top of destroying my hometown of Mariupol, they also struck the maternity hospital in Kyiv where my son was born...

The artist also stated that he wished not for abstract peace, but for victory for Ukrainian troops:

I wish Ukraine only victory. Why do I wish for victory and not peace? Because fuck your peace

Justification of Russian silence

In one of his interviews, Kyivstoner justified the silence of prominent figures in Russia:

I used to travel there (editor's note: to Russia) often for shoots. I know how and what happens there. The second you open your mouth, they immediately call or pay you a visit — you shouldn't do that. And some of those who are silent might not have even received a call, but subconsciously they understand they can't change anything. Fear. It prevents people from speaking out. Over the past 10 years, everyone was terrified into silence. And second — maybe they don't give a fuck. The war isn't happening on their doorstep. Why speak out? Maybe they believe it's not a war, but a 'special military operation' and that 'there are Banderovites and nationalists Ukraine needs to be freed from.' Others stay silent because they have no alternative. Imagine you're a singer with a crew and a business, you support Ukraine with a post on Instagram, and they come and take everything away from you.«

Apologies for 2014

The rapper also apologized to Ukrainians for ignoring the war that had started back in 2014:

We understand full well that this war has been going on for eight years. Now it is across all of Ukraine, whereas before it was in the Donbas. You see, I always knew there was a war, but I didn't feel it personally. When the annexation of Crimea happened and the war in eastern Ukraine started, I was right here in the US. I was sitting on this very balcony thinking that this was an absolute nightmare and I could do nothing about it. I turned off the TV and ignored the issue. What could I have done? And my apology goes out to the people who lived through that horror back then.«

In 2023, the rapper released his first Ukrainian-language album titled "Kultura Vidminy" ("Cancel Culture"), although in daily life he continues speaking Russian.

Assistance to Ukraine

Currently, the rapper lives and works in the United States. In an interview, Kyivstoner's wife Alina Bowl spoke about their aid to Ukraine:

We help the military out of our own pocket; we sold an awful lot of our personal belongings. Albert wired a huge amount of money to the AFU, to children left without parents, to those who suffered. There's just no point in shouting about it on Instagram so people say: 'Oh, look how great you are.' That's not what this is about. Those who know, know. Those who are grateful, are grateful. God sees everything.

Controversial statements by Kyivstoner in Dud interview (2025)

In September 2025 in Bratislava (where the rapper resides), Kyivstoner gave an extensive interview to Yuri Dud. In it, he touched upon the most sensitive topics surrounding the war and internal Ukrainian problems.

Among the most widely discussed statements:

• Criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky and state authorities: "He will never appeal to me either as a politician or as a president. Back then, everything was just beginning and all of Ukraine was united. But when people began realizing that stealing and chaos were happening up there, eyes opened," and as it turned out "Everything could have been handled so there would be no war at all"

• On mobilization policy and the actions of draft officers (TCK): "What lawlessness is happening toward the citizens of my country within the country itself. I mean repressions carried out by those very draft boards... I have buddies who have literally been sitting at home for six months unable to step outside because they are simply terrified. Because there are people who do not want to go to the front"

• On motivating Ukrainians to enlist: "However sad and unprincipled it might sound, do as the Russians do — motivate with cash. For instance, take some remote province where a man's wage is two thousand rubles. He is offered 250,000 rubles. Plus if you die, additional money. That is super-motivation, yes. And people whisper in the guy's ear: why the hell are you sitting here doing nothing? Go prove yourself. At least we will make some money, at least we will see real cash. One, two, three months pass — half a million rubles rolls in"

• On sympathy for "ordinary Russians": "Over there, on the other side, many people died too. Over there, people won't think: 'Did all those people die just to give everything back?'. And on that side people won't think like that either. So in the end, it's a vicious circle. Inevitably, one of them will have to arrive at a compromise, and that compromise will resolve things as they stand"

• On freedom of speech in Ukraine: "When I talk about why bloggers are silent, it's about the lawlessness that is happening inside Ukraine. You see? What touches people (...) On a basic human level, I feel terribly hurt that ordinary people suffer and can't do anything about it, you see? And they aren't suffering because of the enemy; they are suffering because of the government. That is what outrages me. And it outrages me that people living there stay silent." He also claimed he feels "stifled" in Ukraine due to a "lack of freedom of speech," and that "he has more sympathy for Moscow, where, he claims, it was easier to live and create."

• On "Russian brothers": "Maksim Galkin. That's my brother. And Vasya Basta. You look at these people and you understand that you'll never meet anyone like them again. Each of them is educated in his own way and evokes positive emotions. You feel proud to know these people."
  

At the same time, the rapper dismissed all allegations that he holds a pro-Russian stance or is trying to sit on two chairs, stating that he unequivocally supports Ukraine and aids the Ukrainian military. The rapper emphasized that he condemns Russian aggression and feels nothing but anger toward the Kremlin leader.

His public statements remain deeply contradictory: while condemning Russia's aggression, he simultaneously talks about "compromise" with the invader, compares Ukrainian mobilization incentives to Russia's mercenary recruitment, voices nostalgia for Moscow, and attacks Ukraine's state leadership from abroad without offering constructive solutions. Ultimately, his posture resembles sensationalist hype rather than constructive civic responsibility!