Ukrainian rapper Potap and singer Nastya Kamenskykh have sparked online anger after posting an Instagram video mocking public debate over the Russian language.
In the short video, the couple appear to writhe in pain while holding their stomachs before pretending to apologize for communicating in Russian. Writing in the caption, the artists asked for forgiveness for speaking Russian, adding that they had forgotten that freedom exists.
The post triggered a wave of emotional criticism from Ukrainian social media users. One commenter living abroad wrote that while they might respond in Russian if addressed in the language, making Russian a public symbol of freedom during the current situation reflects a deliberate political stance. Another user described the video as madness rather than an expression of freedom, accusing the pair of lacking tact and seeking publicity throughout their careers.
Public Backlash and Past Controversies
Other users condemned the timing of the clip while a terrible war continues in Ukraine. A commenter stated that the pair had forgotten about dignity and suggested they return their Ukrainian passports, noting that the passport provides the very freedom they enjoy.
Potap and Kamenskykh currently live abroad and have faced repeated backlash from Ukrainian audiences since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. The duo previously faced intense scrutiny over their stance on the war and their ongoing use of Russian.
Last year, Kamenskykh faced public criticism over comments she made regarding the Russian language during a concert in the United States. The pair also generated controversy after previously outlining specific conditions under which they would agree to perform in Kyiv again.
Potap, whose real name is Oleksiy Potapenko, formed the hit pop duo with Kamenskykh in 2006. The couple, who married in 2019, built a major commercial music career across Eastern Europe prior to the war.
