Three members of the group Buranovskiye Babushki that represented the country at Eurovision, were blacklisted by Ukraine due to performances in Crimea and Donbas, reflecting ongoing cultural and political tensions.
Three members of the Russian folk group Buranovskiye Babushki, who represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 and finished in an impressive second place with the song “Party For Everybody,” have been added to Ukraine’s blacklist of artists banned from performing in the country. Although recently reported by several news outlets, the decision was originally made in 2020. It is part of Ukraine’s broader policy to block Russian artists who are perceived as supporting the Russian state’s actions against Ukraine or who have performed in contested territories, as a means of upholding cultural and political security.
Another former Eurovision representative now on the list is Julia Samoylova, who represented Russia at Eurovision in 2018. Samoylova had originally been selected to represent Russia in 2017, but the contest was held in Kyiv that year, and Russia’s participation was canceled. A year later, Samoylova performed “I Won’t Break” in Lisbon but failed to qualify for the grand final, marking the first time Russia did not advance since joining the contest.
Political and Cultural Conflict Intensifies
Ukraine’s blacklist encompasses not only current Russian entertainers but also notable figures from the past. Among them are three members of the veteran group who once served as cultural ambassadors for Russia on the European stage: Katherina Shklyaeva, who passed away in 2024, Natalya Pugacheva, who died in 2019, and Galina Koneva. This inclusion highlights Ukraine’s ongoing commitment to a “cultural boycott” as a form of pressure against Russia.
The Grandmothers Who Baked Buns On Stage
Buranovskiye Babushki is a group of grandmothers from the village of Buranovo in Russia’s Udmurtia region, who gained fame after their 2012 Eurovision performance. Their stage act stood out for its humorous dance steps and a memorable scene where they baked buns live on stage. The group blends ethnic music with modern elements while maintaining traditional rural clothing and cultural motifs. Their selection to represent Russia was unique in the history of the contest, combining deep cultural symbolism with entertaining performance and a warm message of unity and community. This can be seen as a clear example of using music as a form of soft cultural diplomacy.
Eurovision as a Symbolic Battleground
Conversations among Eurovision fans in the EuroMix community emphasize that this decision underscores the ongoing ideological tensions between art and politics. While the band once symbolized hope and peace, the evolving geopolitical situation—particularly the post-2014 environment and the 2022 invasion—has dramatically shifted cultural perceptions. Eurovision, long known as a stage for subtle political battles, remains a symbolic arena for much broader developments.
Eurovision 2021: This was Russia’s 24th participation in Eurovision. Russia joined the competition in 1994 and won it once, in Eurovision 2008 with the song “Believe” performed by singer Dima Bilan.
