“In the early years of the war, not all artists were willing to support the front without receiving payment,” said Rudnytska
21 January 14:35
YOUTUBE
In the early years of the war, many well-known artists were not prepared to perform for the troops for free, and they also realized too late the scale of Russian aggression. Anzhelika Rudnytska, a public figure and founder of the “Territory A” art project, spoke about this in an interview with the YouTube channel "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to Rudnytska, in 2014–2015, organizers of frontline tours often faced resistance from popular artists who were unwilling to perform for the military without a fee, even though they agreed to travel to cities near the front lines for payment.
“But when they were invited to perform in Kramatorsk, for example, or Sievierodonetsk for a fee, they went,” she emphasized.
She noted that at the time, the state provided only basic necessities—travel, food, and lodging, often under difficult conditions—and there was no question of substantial payments.
Rudnytska also believes that for many in the cultural sector, the war only became a reality after the full-scale invasion in 2022, which, in her opinion, indicates a lack of critical thinking and a principled stance.
“I have no illusions about such artists. For the most part, they are opportunists—wherever it’s convenient, we make money. No ideology, no inner conviction. If they pay there, then it’s better to justify oneself later than to refuse the fees,” she added.
At the same time, Anzhelika Rudnytska emphasized that this attitude is not typical of everyone, but it is precisely this, in her view, that highlights the problem of a lack of responsibility among cultural elites during wartime.
