Occupants detain DJ in Crimea for performing song "Ukraine has not yet died"

In Crimea, Russians are persecuting a DJ and a club director because of the song "Ukraine Has Not Yet Died". This is part of a systemic repression against pro-Ukrainian citizens.

This was reported by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

In the village of Pishchane, Bakhchisarai district, Russian security forces detained DJ Pavel Korotkoi and drew up a report against the director of the Atmosphere nightclub for allegedly "discrediting the Russian army" by playing a Ukrainian track. The case file has now been submitted to the so-called court.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center emphasizes that such actions are illegal and violate the right to freedom of speech. Persecution for listening to Ukrainian music and demonstrating support for Ukraine has become a systematic practice on the occupied peninsula.

In July 2025, the Bakhchisarai "court" already fined the club's director 300 thousand Russian rubles (approximately 90 thousand hryvnias) for the same incident. According to the occupiers, the line of Serdyuchka's song "Ukraine has not yet died" allegedly "discredits the armed forces of the Russian Federation."

Initially, it was reported that the song was ordered by a visitor, but the case file indicates that the track was on the club's playlist. The director of the establishment fully admitted his "guilt". After the verdict, the club's administration said that the DJ was working temporarily and would no longer perform in Crimea.

Among the occupiers' informants is pro-Russian blogger Oleksandr Talipov, who cooperates with the so-called Center for Countering Extremism in Crimea. His denunciations have led to dozens of criminal cases for listening to Ukrainian music or supporting Ukraine.

The resident of Sevastopol also faces up to seven years in prison for his comments on the Internet. From March 2024 to April 2025, he published calls for the destruction of the Kerch Bridge, attacks on the residence of the Russian President and strikes on Crimea. He is also accused of making statements about the alleged actions of the Armed Forces in the Kursk region and public calls to kill Russians.

Анна Бальчінос