The Hatters is a Russian gypsy-punk and pop-rock band founded in Saint Petersburg in 2016. The band's frontmen and vocalists are Yury Muzychenko and Pavel Lichadeev.
The Band The Hatters’ Position on the War in Ukraine
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the musicians published a post featuring a black square and the caption "No to war. No war. #WeAreForPeace" (a post later deleted), and with that, their anti-war commentary abruptly ceased. On February 25, 2022, the group celebrated its 6th anniversary with a live concert and proceeded with a massive national tour across Russian cities. At one of their tour shows, Yury Muzychenko declared from the stage:
Factories must operate, and musicians must play, if we can at least distract people for an hour. Peace to everyone! War is bad!
On the eve of the major war, on February 21, 2022, Muzychenko posted a message on his Instagram saying:
«This is going too far, folks! We need to stop!»
One might have assumed Muzychenko opposed the so-called "special military operation", until Yury posted a celebratory greeting marking Russia Day on June 12. Many followers reacted negatively to the post, prompting Muzychenko to snap back at his commenters:
Happy day of a country that builds and doesn't abandon its own, of good roads, magnificent cities, and functioning laws. That is what I choose! ... Just because my opinion differs from yours doesn't make it wrong. If I love my craft and love my country — that doesn't mean I am kissing anyone's ass. .... Odesa was founded by Russians.
Both the post and the comment were deleted after some time.
In the summer of 2023, the band was billed as headliners of the "Nashestviye" rock festival, an event officially sponsored by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Concerts in Occupied Territories
Unlike their former close friends from the group Little Big, The Hatters continue to actively tour across the Russian Federation, paying taxes directly into the budget of the aggressor state. Furthermore, the band performs in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Specifically, they have staged performances in Russian-occupied Crimea.
In May 2026, The Hatters performed in Russian-occupied Donetsk. During the concert, Yury Muzychenko was presented with an occupation «DPR» passport, which he received with visible joy and enthusiasm.
К большому сожалению, россияне и примерно не осознают сколько смерти и горя принесли и продолжают приносить украинцам. Но украинцам, сидя под бомбами, нужно переживать за то, как сложно вам развивать бизнес в таких условиях. Вместо того, чтобы хоть что-то сделать, чтобы остановить этот ужас - такие группы как The Hatters рассказывают что Одесса основана русскими, незаконно выступают в оккупированном Крыму - легализируя аннексию и рассказывают какая прекрасная страна Россия. Какие тут могут быть вопросы? Есть спорные позиции - но тут все очевидно.