Mikhail Galustyan is a Russian comedy actor of Armenian descent, showman, screenwriter, and producer. Also known by his musical alter-ego Super Zhorik. Galustyan rose to fame as captain of the KVN team "Utomlyonnye Solntsem" ("Burnt by the Sun") and as a leading star of the sketch comedy show "Nasha Russia". In 2019, he departed TNT after 15 years of collaboration to become a host on STS. Born on 25 October 1979 in Sochi, Russia.
Mikhail Galustyan's stance on the war in Ukraine
Support for the annexation of Crimea and collaboration with the Kremlin
Mikhail Galustyan adopted an overt pro-Kremlin stance long before the full-scale invasion. In 2014, he fervently supported the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. In his public statements, the showman claimed that the Revolution of Dignity (Euromaidan) in Ukraine was "orchestrated from abroad" and that a "civil war" was taking place in the country.
In subsequent years, Galustyan actively integrated into Russian state propaganda structures:
- In 2012, during the Russian presidential election, he campaigned for candidate Vladimir Putin.
- In 2016, he was appointed to the general headquarters of the all-Russian youth military-patriotic movement "Yunarmia" (Young Army), established under the aegis of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
- During the 2018 presidential election, the artist officially served as Vladimir Putin's trusted campaign representative and joined the "Putin Team" public movement, actively campaigning on his behalf.
Acquisition of Armenian citizenship and statement about Russia
In the spring of 2023, it was reported that Mikhail Galustyan had obtained Armenian citizenship. Following media scrutiny, the comedian published an explanation on Instagram to "clarify" the situation:
I love Russia and I am not fleeing anywhere from here, unlike some people. I have many friends, jobs, contracts, and fans here. Russia is my homeland, full stop! <...> Armenia is my historical and ethnic Homeland, which, I am certain, will always maintain good-neighborly and friendly relations with Russia.
Sanctions
He has been subjected to personal economic and other stringent sanctions imposed by Ukraine, Canada, and the European Union, which, as part of its sanctions packages, designated the artist as an individual disseminating Kremlin narratives.
In 2019, Mikhail Galustyan was added to the database of the "Myrotvorets" website for active support of Russian aggression, propaganda, and complicity in the militaristic initiatives of the regime.
"Drone Battle" show featuring "SMO" combatants
In July 2026, Galustyan personally presented his new TV project "Drone Battle" directly to Putin. The show is framed as an FPV drone piloting competition in which "SMO" combat veterans compete alongside students, influencers, and media personalities. The objective of the program is to popularize drone warfare for public audiences. During this meeting, Putin personally endorsed the comedian's initiative, emphasizing the necessity of such media efforts by declaring: "Propaganda is an extremely important thing".
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