The father of late Ukrainian singer Andriy Kuzmenko, known as Kuzma Skryabin, has stated that the official police investigation into the 2015 car crash that killed his son was never properly conducted and was left to run its course.
Speaking in an interview with journalist Slava Demin on Monday, August 17, which marked what would have been the musician's 58th birthday, Viktor Kuzmenko said he does not believe the fatal collision in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was a coincidence, describing the case as very dark.
Viktor Kuzmenko revealed that the investigation has now concluded and that the family decided to drop further inquiries into the crash out of concern for the safety of the singer's widow, Svitlana, and his daughter, Barbara, who both live in Kyiv. He explained that after losing his son, the family feared for the lives of his daughter-in-law and granddaughter in the capital if they pressed the matter too firmly.
The singer's father added that he agreed with his late wife, Olha Mykhailivna, who also questioned whether the crash was accidental. He noted that while there was no direct evidence, he viewed the circumstances as a 50/50 split and did not want to cling to alternative theories. He also mentioned that he last visited the crash site about six years ago.
Details of the fatal crash
The fatal accident occurred on February 2, 2015, as Kuzmenko was returning home from a concert in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. His Toyota Sequoia SUV collided with a milk tanker truck on a highway near the village of Lozuvatka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The singer was 46 years old at the time of the crash.
Following the collision, Kuzmenko was buried on February 5, 2015, in a family crypt in the settlement of Bryukhovychi, located in his native Lviv Oblast in western Ukraine.
Musical career and national honors
Kuzmenko was a prominent singer, songwriter, musician, and frontman for the influential Ukrainian pop-rock band Skryabin. Among his most popular songs are Mam, Movchaty, Stari Fotografiyi, Lyudy, Yak Korabli, Mistsya Shchaslyvykh Lyudey, Spy Sobi Sama, and Shampanski Ochi.
On August 17, 2020, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded Kuzmenko the title of Hero of Ukraine, conferring the Order of the State upon the late performer. Zelensky described the singer as a true defender of the nation and a warrior of the word, noting that after the war began in 2014, Kuzmenko regularly traveled to eastern Ukraine to assist military personnel, using his songs, pen, and microphone to inspire the fight for a strong and independent country.
Reactions from fellow artists
Ukrainian singer Mila Nitich also recently shared her personal memories of working with Kuzmenko and discussed whether she believes the fatal vehicle collision was staged.
