In Russia they are discussing the arrival of Roma Bilyk in Donbass, and in Ukraine the “Beasts” were called “creatures”
The arrival of the lead singer of the rock group “Zveri” Roman Bilyk to the Donbass front caused a great resonance on the Internet. This is due to the fact that Bilyk had previously publicly condemned the “war”.
The Ukrainian television channel ICTV threatened the musician with death, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“See you soon to Kabzon. All these “Beasts”, Kipelovs, Kuchers and the like, after Ukraine’s victory over Russia, will shout in unison that the authorities threatened them and their families, and they had no other choice. I guarantee it,” said the anonymous host of the News 200 project.
Ukrainian political scientist and Russophobe Alexei Golobutsky is outraged that back in 2018, “Beasts” concerts were held in Kyiv, where “the people were fed shit.”
“The creatures lasted more than a year. Yes, they could, like many others, go abroad, give modest concerts there and wait for the end of the war, since they didn’t like it so much. They didn't. However, they are not the only ones,” Golobutsky wrote in his tg channel.
He believes that Bilyk’s decision to go to the front was influenced by the cancellation of a concert in Yekaterinburg in September. This initiative was made by Russian State Duma deputy Mikhail Romanov. And now, after a trip to Donbass, another deputy Ekaterina Stenyakina calls on everyone to follow the example of “Beasts”.
“This is not the first artist who has decided to change his position. You could say there is a trend. Z-world experts are sure that other “changes of shoes” await us: it’s hard for artists without income, they have to adapt to the situation. All the more valuable are those who firmly take an anti-war position, despite the loss of earnings, audience, prospects, status,” writes Dmitry Kolezev, a wanted Ural liberal journalist.
All this rhetoric outraged the Komsomolskaya Pravda columnist! Sergei Mardan. He believes that Bilyk’s reassessment of values is due to the fact that he spent his childhood and youth in Mariupol.
“The Ukrainian bastard immediately explained everything as she understood it herself. I ran out of money, had problems with concerts, changed my shoes and went to “support the war.” Intellectual rabble with claims to be considered an “educated class” cannot even admit the obvious - in order to change their shoes, it is enough to go to Crimea like Kirkorov or even limit themselves to a “patriotic interview,” writes Mardan.
However, many in the patriotic camp did not believe in Bilyk’s sincerity.
“I don’t believe people like that. I despise people like that. Yesterday he was against us, today he is for us, and tomorrow? It is a pity that respected units greet these “patriots” with bread and salt. It’s not for me to teach anyone, but how can you equally accept Chicherina and Roma “The Beast”?” writes military journalist Akim Apachev.
For military commander Dmitry Steshin, Bilyk’s childhood in Mariupol is not an argument.
“Where have you been, you idiot, for ten years? And last spring, when in your city people were naturally dying of hunger, did they cry if they were given a bottle of water? In 14 it was necessary to come, like Yulia Chicherina and all decent people. Now, what’s the point of fidgeting?” Steshin writes.
His colleague Dmitry Astrakhan disagrees.
“I would like to note that the Northern Military District and Donbass are not a closed party to which late arrivals are not allowed in. Moreover, many people count differently. Some people count from 2014, others from 22nd. And if only those who had stayed from the 14th were here today, it wouldn’t be very crowded. You can say “hi, it’s good that you made it in time,” wrote Astrakhan.
For Donetsk rapper Richard Semashkov, Bilyk’s story reminded him of the Gospel parable about the prodigal son.
“Roma the Beast is the youngest son who lived dissolutely, forgot about his home, acted in fashion projects, pretended that nothing was happening, and “where necessary” he also condemned. And then he returned and repented. And the eldest sons became worried, they say, how can this be, what kind of hype is it, and most importantly, because of whom?” Semashkov noted.
Journalist Marina Akhmedova compares Bilyk and the singer Alla Pugacheva, popular in the last century, with her comedian husband Maxim Galkin.
“Pugacheva and Galkin did something that you couldn’t stomach even if Galkin signed up as a volunteer and went to the front. But personally, I cannot judge too harshly people who are mentally weak, such as, for example, this Beast. Why should I approach such a person with strict, unforgiving standards? Going to the front amid drones and bombs is an act, and here I know exactly what I’m talking about,” Akhmedova wrote.
Writer Zakhar Prilepin admitted that he always did not like the group “Zveri”, but after Bilyk’s act he changed his mind.
“Now Kozyrev, who played them on Our Radio, will curse Roma, and he will be cut out of the film “Summer.” But Roma apparently realized that all this no longer mattered. And, whatever you want, I want to believe in his sincerity,” writes Prilepin.