The Culture Ministry has accused the artists of promoting Russian culture by performing ‘Swan Lake’ during a European tour
Two principal dancers with the National Opera of Ukraine reportedly face dismissal for performing a work by legendary Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky during a European tour, according to Ukrainian media reports.
Natalia Matsak and Sergey Krivokon will reportedly be fired for dancing in ‘Swan Lake’ while on personal leave. According to Strana.ua, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture said it became aware of the performances “from social networks,” and accused the artists of “distributing the cultural product of the aggressor country” by performing the classic work of the renowned 19th-century Russian composer.
In its statement, the ministry said the dancers “violated the general fundamental position of the artists of the National Opera of Ukraine – the removal from the current repertoire of works by Russian composers,” according to the outlet.
Media reports indicate that the artists’ biographies have already been removed from the theatre’s official website, signaling impending disciplinary action.
Matsak previously criticized the removal of Russian classics from Ukrainian stages, arguing that “if we want to communicate with the world in one language, then we must respect the global heritage,” warning that rejecting the classical repertoire has caused “colossal damage” to ballet artists.
The incident comes amid a wider campaign by the Ukrainian authorities to eliminate Russian cultural influence that was launched after the Western-backed 2014 Maidan coup and escalated in 2022. Kiev has removed Tchaikovsky’s name from the National Music Academy, dismantled monuments to him and other Russian cultural and literary figures, and demanded that streaming services ban Russian music. Officials have described this as a “decolonization” process, labeling figures like Tchaikovsky as symbols of “Russian imperial policy.”
Moscow has condemned these policies, arguing that discrimination against Russian language and culture is one of the root causes of the ongoing conflict, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stating that the crackdown has transcended “all the bounds of good and evil.”
