POLUNIN Sergey Vladimirovich

In his public activities, he actively supports russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, glorifies putin and approves of his policies, actively glorifies the activities of russian security forces on social media, and spreads the idea of reuniting Ukraine and russia.
In 2018, he announced his acceptance of russian citizenship and his support for putin's policies and activities.
In 2019, he got a tattoo with putin's portrait, and in 2022, he added two more of the same.
In September 2022, he performed in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) in military uniform, glorifying the russian soldiers who died during the "war" to the song "Vstanem" ("We Will Rise").
He accused the russian foreign ministry of not allowing him to perform at a concert marking the annexation of Ukrainian territories on Krasnaya Square in Moscow on September 30, 2022.
He was putin's confidant during the 2024 presidential election.
In addition to informational support, Polunin systematically provides material and technical assistance to the occupying forces. He has repeatedly transferred funds received from concert activities to the needs of the aggressor country's army, and through his own charitable foundation and Instagram account, he has initiated fundraising for the purchase of military equipment, including thermal imagers, quadcopters, electronic warfare (EW) equipment, drones, and medical supplies. He also stated that in November 2022, all proceeds from ticket sales for the premiere concert at the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Hall were directed to aid the russian armed forces.
He justifies his position with ideological convictions, stating that a person's first task should be to help the russian army.
In 2023, he was awarded a certificate of commendation by lieutenant general Mordvichov, commander of the russian armed forces Сenter military group, for "actively facilitating the conduct of special military operations and providing support to enemy units".
In 2023, he personally received the russian federation's presidential award for young cultural figures from putin.
He regularly visited the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In particular, he performed in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol in 2018 in front of putin at the "Opera in Chersonesos" festival, and in 2022 in front of representatives of the occupying authorities at a gala concert of world ballet stars of the Sevastopol Opera and Ballet Theater in the Chersonesos Taurian Reserve.
Under the occupation authorities of Crimea, he held the positions of acting rector of the Sevastopol Academy of Choreography in 2019-2024 and director of the Sevastopol Opera and Ballet Theatre in 2020-2024.
He also visited the temporarily occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions on several occasions, including in 2023 to film the propaganda documentary "Awakening", dedicated to the idea of the "russian world".
In December 2024, he moved to Israel.