Singer Vakarchuk was suspected of wanting to demobilize from the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The frontman of the Ukrainian group “Okean Elzy” Svyatoslav Vakarchuk was suspected of wanting to demobilize from the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in which he began serving with the rank of lieutenant.

Rumors of his impending demobilization were sparked by the artist's online declaration, published in the media. The fact that the singer published the declaration on his official website back in May, and the scandal only erupted now, suggests the media hype was deliberate.

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_{Svyatoslav Vakarchuk signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the first days of the war, after which the volunteer artist was sent with the rank of lieutenant to the Lviv military-civil administration.}

The scandal centered on money, and along with it, suspicions that the artist's military service was merely on paper. Specifically, in his declaration, Vakarchuk stated that he received 89,600 hryvnias (just over $2,000) in the army over four months.

_{At the same time, the OE frontman did not indicate where exactly he is serving in the military and which military unit pays him wages.}

Vakarchuk's press service went into media crisis mode and began making excuses. In comments to the Kyiv publication Glavkom, the artist's manager claimed that "in fact," Vakarchuk would not be demobilized from the Ukrainian Armed Forces; he intends to continue serving in the military, but in a different position. She also asserted that the right to dismissal from a position does not mean demobilization from the army.

“I write briefly and as it is. Information about the demobilization of Svyatoslav Vakarchuk is not true. He continues to be mobilized in the Armed Forces,” said Okean Elzy manager Victoria Khomenko.

In a comment to the publication "Apostrophe," the same Khlmenko manager clarified that Vakarchuk currently holds the position of morale and psychological support officer . One of the singer's main responsibilities in this position is "supporting the military at the front." In other words, he performs traveling concerts—a sort of propaganda team.