Yuriy Kaplan is a Ukrainian singer, poet, and composer. He gained widespread popularity through humorous YouTube video appeals to show-business stars on behalf of a provincial guy named Valentin Strykalo from the fictional village of Buriltsevo. Frontman of the band "Valentin Strykalo" (2010–2019). Born on October 2, 1988, in Zaporizhzhia.
Yuriy Kaplan's stance on the war in Ukraine
Stance prior to 2022
During Euromaidan in December 2013, he wrote on his Twitter that "if the Maidan fails, the Regionalists [Party of Regions] will turn the country into complete s**t," after which, in the summer of 2014, the band's concerts in Russia were canceled by the organizers for unexplained reasons. The Russian side criticized Kaplan for supporting Maidan, while the Ukrainian side criticized him for performing in Russia. In response to online reproaches, the musician replied that in doing so he was calling for peace, not war.
Following the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in the east, the band "Valentin Strykalo" continued to tour across Russia.
In 2019, the band disbanded, and Yuriy Kaplan disappeared from the musical radar.
Aiding the Armed Forces of Ukraine and highlighting the truth about the war
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yuriy Kaplan, together with other Ukrainian bloggers, released a joint video where they condemned the war and urged Russians not to remain silent.
The artist expresses his anti-war stance by highlighting the truth about the war (including for the Russians subscribed to him) and supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On his Instagram page, he regularly posts photos showing the consequences of Russian shelling and actively participates in fundraising for the needs of the Ukrainian army.
In December 2023, Yuriy auctioned off his 1996 Fender Mustang guitar, raising over 1.5 million hryvnias, which he donated to the "Come Back Alive" foundation.
50-year entry ban into Russia
In April 2022, Yuriy Kaplan was placed on the Russian authorities' "blacklist" — he was banned from entering the territory of the Russian Federation for a period of 50 years.
Prior to the major war, Yuriy Kaplan lived in Kyiv, while his exact current whereabouts are unknown. According to his Instagram account's geolocation data, Yuriy is located in Spain.
Суть в том что антивоенная позиция в данном случае это конкретно отношение к агрессору, т.е. этой войны не должно было быть, а о*ки должны были сидеть дома, а не лезть на чужие территории где им не рады.