Radio Tapok (Oleg Abramov) is a Russian multi-instrumentalist musician, frontman of the rock band of the same name, and creator of the eponymous YouTube channel. Born on February 15, 1989, in the settlement of Parfino, Novgorod Oblast, RSFSR.
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.
Radio Tapok's stance on the war in Ukraine
Visiting annexed Crimea
In January 2019, Oleg Abramov was entered into the database of the "Myrotvorets" website for visiting territories occupied by Russian invaders, promoting Russian Nazism and fascism, and related activities.
Despite this, the band continued to perform in Ukrainian cities, which led to the release of a video on the STERNENKO channel in 2020 titled "Russian Tapok considers Ukrainians idiots and comes to us on tour." In this video, Serhii Sternenko analyzes Abramov's statements regarding the war and Crimea.
Reaction to the full-scale invasion
On February 15, 2022, Radio Tapok's tour across Ukraine kicked off, but on February 24 it was abruptly cut short after a concert in Mykolaiv due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The musicians immediately returned to Russia.
Abramov spoke warmly about the help provided by Ukrainians in ensuring their safe departure from the country, adding that "a part of me will now remain there forever (editor's note: in Ukraine)."
Shift to a pro-war stance
Shortly thereafter, Oleg seemingly forgot that part of him had remained in Ukraine and swiftly figured out which position was profitable to take while residing in Russia. For instance, this was how he replied to Z-patriots who accused the musician of betrayal and supporting Ukraine:
And so people who watched an old video of me holding a Ukrainian flag remember it and think that back in those days I should have been sitting in a bomb shelter with the Ukrainians who gave me shelter, typing posts on my Instagram saying «HURRAH! ONWARD TO KYIV!». Are you serious? I live in Russia, make songs for Russia and about Russia, I have always been and always will be for Russia and my people, what question is there even to ask? Helloooo?
Support for the Russian military and authorities
In March 2023, Radio Tapok submitted an application for a presidential grant amounting to 21.6 million rubles to hold a concert at a military base. The stated project objective was "maintaining high combat morale among active-duty soldiers and officers of the army, as well as strengthening the spiritual and moral unity between the front and the home front."
On June 12, 2023, the band performed at the "Russia Day" event in Saint Petersburg.
In October 2023, Radio Tapok deleted a cover of the song "Eto proydyot" (This Will Pass) by the band Pornofilmy from his YouTube channel and VKontakte community. That song mentioned political repressions in Russia, the "Set" case, the downed MH17 flight, the war in Donbas, torture and mass detentions at rallies, as well as a line regarding the potential death of the dictator.
On March 18, 2024, Radio Tapok performed at a pro-government rally-concert marking the tenth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea and Putin's victory in the presidential elections, performing the song "Smuta." Additionally, the band performed concerts in Crimea throughout June and July, including shows in Sevastopol, Simferopol, Yalta, Yevpatoria, and Feodosia.
In October 2024, an interview with Radio Tapok was released on the propaganda YouTube channel "Tatarka FM", in which Abramov discussed his concerts supporting the "special military operation" and his earlier tours in Ukraine:
I know that I have my country, my boys, our soldiers. I know perfectly well who my people are. How could one not support them?
I used to go to Ukraine to perform for Russian-speaking people who were drawn to Russian culture... I was one of the last artists who tried to maintain cultural ties between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian sanctions
In July 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine included Abramov on the list of persons posing a threat to Ukraine's national security.
Following the outbreak of full-scale war, Radio Tapok firmly adopted a pro-war stance. The musician performs at state and patriotic events, supports the Russian military, receives state funding, and regularly tours in occupied territories of Ukraine.
Г--да продажная и всё. Да и каверы его полнейшее г--но. Я не понимаю как его каверы пускают музыкальные площадки и воровать деньги так все могут. Пусть с остальными Z-патриотами (..)орит в аду.
(..) не замечают, что он намеренно не написал не одной песни про СВО. Пишет про войны, которым сотни лет. Удобно. (..) считают, что он патриот. Когда в угол зажимают старается как-то помягче ответить, что бы отстали. Не более. "Это пройдет" удалил, когда гонения начались массовые. Просто как и многие скрывает свое мнение ради денег ненавидя эту гниль вокруг себя. Его можно понять.
Немцы во Второй Мировой тоже искренне любили и Г***ера, и Р**х, поддерживали свою страну, свою фа***тскую страну. Но ведь это нормально, да? Ты не можешь говорить, что твоя страна - фа***ская диктатура, ведь это уже выбивается из рамок "нормальности"
Какой ... двуличный. Ненавижу таких ..., уже б был Za россию с самого начала. Трус ..., а то в начале войны сидел плакал как ему страшно в Николаеве, а потом как денюжки посыпались то шарманку сменил. Если б ему грант немцы в 42 выписали он бы пел бы про любовь к Р**ху и про их подвиги втирал советским людям. Я хочу напомнить что война началась еще с 2014-го года, но это ему не мешало ездить в Украину хотя его "пацаны" так же гибли. Война не вечна, она закончится и границы откроются между странами вот тогда и спросят с тапка
Война не вечна, но очевидно что не будет никакого безвиза и свободного перемещения между странами. Уже навпускали вас в свою страну.
Вот пи**р. И песни у него калька на Сабатон.
Звичайно, це його рішення, але дуже сумно. Скажу від себе: " Идите за Русским..."