Sviatoslav Ivanovych "Slava" Vakarchuk (; born 14 May 1975) is a Ukrainian musician, politician, public activist and soldier. He is the lead vocalist of
Okean Elzy
Okean Elzy () is a Ukrainian rock band. It was formed in 1994 in Lviv, Ukraine. It is the most famous and successful Ukrainian music band. The band's vocalist and frontman is Svyatoslav Vakarchuk. In April 2007 Okean Elzy received ''Fuzz Maga ...
, a
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
band in Ukraine. Vakarchuk is a former"Voice" took away Vakarchuk's deputy mandate
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' is a Ukrainian socio-political online media outlet founded by Heorhii Gongadze in April 2000. After Gongadze’s death in September 2000, the editorial team was led by co-founder Olena Prytula, who remained the editor-in ...
(26 June 2020) member of the
Ukrainian parliament
The Verkhovna Rada ( ; VR), officially the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the unicameral parliament of Ukraine. It consists of 450 deputies presided over by a speaker. The Verkhovna Rada meets in the Verkhovna Rada building in Ukraine's capi ...
, and the founder of the
Voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound produ ...
(in May 2019).
Vakarchuk was active in supporting the
Orange Revolution
The Orange Revolution () was a series of protests that led to political upheaval in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005. It gained momentum primarily due to the initiative of the general population, sparked by the aftermath of the ...
and
Euromaidan
Euromaidan ( ; , , ), or the Maidan Uprising, was a wave of Political demonstration, demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv. The p ...
, and is involved in many social and cultural projects. He is one of the most successful musicians in Ukraine and has a PhD degree in
theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain, and predict List of natural phenomena, natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental p ...
.
Vakarchuk is the son of
Ivan Vakarchuk
Ivan Oleksandrovych Vakarchuk (; 6 March 1947 – 4 April 2020) was a Ukrainian and Soviet physicist, politician and social activist. From 1990 to 2007 and again between 2010 and 2013 he was rector of the Lviv University. In 2007–2010 he ...
, a professor of physics at
Lviv University
The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (named after Ivan Franko, ) is a state-sponsored university in Lviv, Ukraine. Since 1940 the university is named after Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko.
The university is the oldest institution of highe ...
Vakarchuk was born in the western Ukrainian city of
Mukachevo
Mukachevo (, ; , ; see name section) is a city in Zakarpattia Oblast, western Ukraine. It is situated in the valley of the Latorica River and serves as the administrative center of Mukachevo Raion. The city is a rail terminus and highway junct ...
, into a family of scientists.For His Next Act, a Ukrainian Rock Star Looks to Politics
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
(14 September 2018) His mother and father were both university professors of physics. His father
Ivan Vakarchuk
Ivan Oleksandrovych Vakarchuk (; 6 March 1947 – 4 April 2020) was a Ukrainian and Soviet physicist, politician and social activist. From 1990 to 2007 and again between 2010 and 2013 he was rector of the Lviv University. In 2007–2010 he ...
is also former
Education Minister
An education minister (sometimes minister of education) is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters. Where known, the government department, ministry, or agency that develops policy and deli ...
Kyiv Post
The ''Kyiv Post'' is Ukraine’s first and most prominent English-language newspaper. It was founded in 1995 in Kyiv by American businessman Jed Sunden.
In 2018, the publication was acquired by prominent Ukrainian businessman Adnan Kivan, foun ...
(23 April 2015)Former Rector of Lviv University Ivan Vakarchuk died
UNIAN
The Ukrainian Independent Information Agency of News () is a Kyiv-based Ukraine, Ukrainian news agency. It produces and provides political, business and financial information, and a photo reporting service. As of October 2022, it was the most v ...
(4 March 2020)
Vakarchuk founded the band
Okean Elzy
Okean Elzy () is a Ukrainian rock band. It was formed in 1994 in Lviv, Ukraine. It is the most famous and successful Ukrainian music band. The band's vocalist and frontman is Svyatoslav Vakarchuk. In April 2007 Okean Elzy received ''Fuzz Maga ...
("Ocean of Elza"), in 1994 as an undergraduate at
Lviv University
The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (named after Ivan Franko, ) is a state-sponsored university in Lviv, Ukraine. Since 1940 the university is named after Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko.
The university is the oldest institution of highe ...
. At this university he earned a Ph.D. in the field of
supersymmetry
Supersymmetry is a Theory, theoretical framework in physics that suggests the existence of a symmetry between Particle physics, particles with integer Spin (physics), spin (''bosons'') and particles with half-integer spin (''fermions''). It propo ...
. After graduating Vakarchuk moved to
Kyiv
Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...
.
In 2005, Vakarchuk answered all questions correctly and won the grand prize ( ₴1 million) for the first time on the Ukrainian version of
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (WWTBAM) is an international television game show franchise of British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, currently owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Televis ...
, called Khto khoche staty milyonerom? – Pershyi milyon. He donated his winnings to orphanages in Ukraine.
In support of their album "Zemlya" in spring 2013, the band embarked on a stadium tour throughout cities in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, the US, Canada, and a number of countries in Western Europe.
In December 2013, Okean Elzy performed during the
Euromaidan
Euromaidan ( ; , , ), or the Maidan Uprising, was a wave of Political demonstration, demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv. The p ...
protests.
In the summer of 2014, Okean Elzy performed a number of large concerts in the biggest stadiums in Ukraine to mark the band's 20th anniversary. Their performance in Kyiv's Olympiyskiy Stadium broke the record for the largest number of people attending a concert by a Ukrainian band — over 75,000.
In 2024, Okean elzy released 2 albums in the same year which have never been done before by them, and to celebrate went on tour in Europe and the US for Ukraine, where at the concert they helt auctions and donations for Ukraine and the band, touring almost everywhere and in places Okean Elzy never been too (for instance, Philadelphia was a brand new tour spot for the band in 2024) it was also the 30th anniversary of the band during the tour.
Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc
The Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc (, Russian language, Russian: Блок Наша Украина – Народная Самооборона, ''Blok Nasha Ukraina – Narodnaya Samooborona,'' NUNS; until 2007 named Our Ukraine Bloc) w ...
's list (as No. 15). In the
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada ( ; VR), officially the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the unicameralism, unicameral parliament of Ukraine. It consists of 450 Deputy (legislator), deputies presided over by a speaker. The Verkhovna Rada meets in the Verkhovn ...
(Ukrainian parliament) he was a member of the parliamentary committee for
freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The rights, right to freedom of expression has been r ...
issues. He was also a member of groups of parliamentary contacts with the
Russian Federation
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
and other countries. Vakarchuk did not submit any legislative acts during his deputy's term. He submitted two amendments, one of which was accepted by the Verkhovna Rada. In early September 2008, he renounced his seat in the Verkhovna Rada due to the political situation. On 16 December 2008, the Verkhovna Rada accepted Vakarchuk's renunciation. According to Vakarchuk, he renounced his seat because “I was really frustrated by the level of mutual fights, at the absurd
Hobbesian
Thomas Hobbes ( ; 5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679) was an English philosopher, best known for his 1651 book ''Leviathan'', in which he expounds an influential formulation of social contract theory. He is considered to be one of the founders ...
world of all against all, rather than changing the country for the better.”Svyatoslav Vakarchuk in , Ukraine">Kharkiv, Ukraine on 19 April 2008">Ukraine.html" ;"title="Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine on 19 April 2008
In 2008, Vakarchuk released a solo project "Vnochi (music album)">Vnochi" (In the Night). This album was released under the name of Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, but it includes appearances by all members of
Okean Elzy
Okean Elzy () is a Ukrainian rock band. It was formed in 1994 in Lviv, Ukraine. It is the most famous and successful Ukrainian music band. The band's vocalist and frontman is Svyatoslav Vakarchuk. In April 2007 Okean Elzy received ''Fuzz Maga ...
and other various guest musicians. Another solo project followed in 2011, " Brussel" (Brussels).
In 2015, Vakarchuk took part in the Brussel (music album)">Brussel" (Brussels).
In 2015, Vakarchuk took part in the Yale World Fellows international fellowship program at Yale University">Yale World Fellows">Brussel (music album)">Brussel" (Brussels).
In 2015, Vakarchuk took part in the Yale World Fellows international fellowship program at Yale University.
Vakarchuk stated multiple times in 2017 that he had no political ambitions. However, in 2018 he joined Stanford University as a visiting scholar, focusing on politics and leadership. Later that year he appeared at several politically themed conferences, speaking alongside established Ukrainian politicians. This led the public to view him as a potential candidate for the
2019 Ukrainian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Ukraine on 31 March 2019. As none of the 39 candidates on the ballot received an absolute majority of the initial vote, a runoff was held on 21 April between the top two vote-getters: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a t ...
, where he became one of the frontrunners according to
opinion polls
An opinion poll, often simply referred to as a survey or a poll, is a human research survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of que ...
. But by late 2018 he was overtaken by other potential candidates, and in October 2018 he stated “Who can change the political culture is more important than who becomes the president.” In the election Vakarchuk did not back any of the candidates. According to an early March 2019 poll by sociological group "RATING", 64% of the electorate would have liked to see Vakarchuk among the presidential candidates.
Vakarchuk also plays an active role in social and cultural projects, and is the founder of the charity foundation "Lyudi Maybutnyoho" (People of the Future). The main projects of the foundation were "Knyga Tvoryt' Lyudynu" (A Book Creates a Man), "Osvita Krainoyu" (The Country's Education), "3-D Proekt. Dumay, Diy, Dopomagai." (3-D Project. Think, Act. Help.). Together with the members of the band he actively supported the preventive campaign IOM and MTV Europe's "People Are Not For Sale." In 2003, Vakarchuk became an Honorary Ambassador of Culture in Ukraine. In 2005, he became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme.
On 16 May 2019, Vakarchuk announced the creation of a new political party, '' Holos'' (Voice or Vote), with the aim to participate in the July July 2019 parliamentary election. Vakarchuk assured on 19 May 2019 that if elected to parliament, he would not stop playing music, but political activity would be a priority.Vakarchuk: There will be no acting deputies in the list of new party Ukrayinska Pravda (19 May 2019) He also claimed that he believed that currently the
Ukrainian parliament
The Verkhovna Rada ( ; VR), officially the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the unicameral parliament of Ukraine. It consists of 450 deputies presided over by a speaker. The Verkhovna Rada meets in the Verkhovna Rada building in Ukraine's capi ...
is the place "where real changes are being made" so he did not participate in the presidential election of the previous month. Vakarchuk was elected to the Verkhovna Rada in July 2019. His party gained 5.82% of the vote. On 11 June 2020 Vakarchuk registered in parliament a request to terminate his parliamentary mandate. He insisted that he did not plan to end his political career but would be working on
extra-parliamentary
An extra-parliamentary opposition, also referred to as simply extra-parliamentary or extraparliamentary, is a political movement opposed to a ruling government or political party that chooses not to engage in elections. Many social movements could ...
Interfax-Ukraine
Interfax-Ukraine () is a Ukrainian news agency. Founded in 1992, the company publishes in Ukrainian, Russian, English and German.
The company owns a 50-seat press centre.
The staff of the agency is 105 people (as of the end of February 2022)
...
(11 June 2020) On 18 June 2020 parliament rejected the draft resolution on the early termination of Vakarchuk's parliamentary mandate (the resolution was supported by 175 deputies, while 226 votes minimum were required).Parliament rejects Vakarchuk’s resignation
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' is a Ukrainian socio-political online media outlet founded by Heorhii Gongadze in April 2000. After Gongadze’s death in September 2000, the editorial team was led by co-founder Olena Prytula, who remained the editor-in ...
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' is a Ukrainian socio-political online media outlet founded by Heorhii Gongadze in April 2000. After Gongadze’s death in September 2000, the editorial team was led by co-founder Olena Prytula, who remained the editor-in ...
(8 October 2020)
Personal life
His life partner from the beginning of the 2000s until 2021 was Lialia Fonariova. They have never been registered as a married couple Register of Declarations . Together they raised Lialia's daughter from her first marriage with Volodymyr Tarasyuk, Diana Fonariova, (later adopted by Sviatoslav The couple had no children together.
In June 2021, Vakarchuk announced the end of his relationship with Lialia as a coupl
Children:
* son Ivan Vakarchuk (born June 19, 202
* daughter Solomiya Vakarchuk (b. June 21, 202
The Ukrainian magazine ''
Korrespondent
''Korrespondent'' (; ; literally: ''Correspondent'') is a weekly printed magazine published in Ukraine in the Russian and Ukrainian languages. It is part of United Media Holding group, created by Boris Lozhkin and owned by Serhiy Kurchenko.
'' has ranked him as one of the 100 most influential people in Ukraine (in 2008 ranked 55).
Vakarchuk speaks Ukrainian,
Russian
Russian(s) may refer to:
*Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*A citizen of Russia
*Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages
*''The Russians'', a b ...
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
, Vakarchuk joined the Ukrainian army.Musician Svyatoslav Vakarchuk joins territorial defense unit
The Kyiv Independent
''The Kyiv Independent'' is an English-language Ukraine, Ukrainian online newspaper founded in November 2021, three months before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, by former staff of the ''Kyiv Post'' and media c ...
Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast (, ), also referred to as Lvivshchyna (, ), is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast in western Ukraine. The capital city, capital of the oblast is the city of Lviv. The current population is
History Name
The region is named ...
on 7 March 2022.
Awards
*
Merited Artist of Ukraine
Honored Artist of Ukraine (; also translated as Honored (Performing) Artist of Ukraine or Merited (Performing) Artist of Ukraine) is a state honorary title of decoration of the Ukrainian government. Originally awarded by the Ukrainian SSR, the ...
Lviv
Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
(2015)
* Honorary Citizen of
Kyiv
Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...
(2015)
*
Order of Liberty
The Order of Liberty, or the Order of Freedom (), is a Portuguese honorific civil order that distinguishes relevant services to the cause of democracy and freedom, in the defense of the values of civilization and human dignity. The order was cr ...
of Ukraine (2016)
Discography
Vakarchuk has released nine studio albums together with his band, Okean Elzy:
* '' Tam, de nas nema'' (Where there is no us 1998)
* '' Ya na nebi buv'' (I was in heaven, 2000)
* ''
Model
A model is an informative representation of an object, person, or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin , .
Models can be divided in ...
Mira
Mira (), designation Omicron Ceti (ο Ceti, abbreviated Omicron Cet, ο Cet), is a red-giant star estimated to be 200–300 light-years from the Sun in the constellation Cetus.
ο Ceti is a binary stellar system, consisting of a vari ...
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Ligh ...
'' (2024)
* '' Toy den'' (2024)
and also one live acoustic album '' Tviy format'' (Your Format, 2003).