Young Russian musicians defy Kremlin through song

73 1 minute read

Sergei Satanovskii

November 2, 2025

In Russia, a growing number of young musicians show their opposition to the war in Ukraine. Some street performances have gone viral — but artists such as Diana Loginova, also known as Naoko, are risking fines and jail time for defying Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

In St. Petersburg, street musician Diana Loginova and her band Stoptime went viral for performing songs critical of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Loginova was jailed and fined for lyrics deemed to “discredit” the army. Thousands of Russians face similar charges under strict laws. Despite the clampdown, young Russians show growing support for peace.