How a Berlin Afterparty for Charli XCX Leads Back to Russian Operations in Occupied Ukraine

The mockumentary The Moment, directed by Zaydan Zamiri and featuring Charli XCX, premiered on February 14 as part of the Berlin International Film Festival. Following the screening in the German capital, an afterparty was organized by Russian model and DJ Anastasia Shevtsova, known professionally as Petit. She later shared details of the event in a social media post.

Among the invited DJs were Austrian artist Wolfram, French musician SebastiAn, French DJ u.r.trax, as well as Charli XCX’s husband, British musician and The 1975 drummer George Daniel.

Family ties to activities in occupied territories

Shevtsova is the daughter of Zhanna Shevtsova, founder of the “Traditsiya” foundation, which presents itself as a fund for “social initiatives” and operates in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The organization collaborates with Putin’s Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives and implements projects in Ukrainian regions under Russian occupation, including Donetsk, Luhansk, and Mariupol. In parallel, she serves as Vice-Rector for Creative Industries and Project Activities at the Moscow State Institute of Culture.

Information published on the foundation’s website states that since 2023 its work has been “aimed at integrating Donbas and liberated territories into a single cultural, educational, enlightenment, and civilizational space,” with a focus on expanding cultural programs and engaging “creatively gifted children.”

Visits to occupied cities and film screenings

In 2024, Shevtsova traveled to the temporarily occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including the cities of Luhansk and Mariupol. During her visit, she organized screenings for Ukrainian children of the propaganda “documentary” Road to a Dream, produced with the backing of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. The film centers on the eponymous festival  itself and features appearances by its organizers and participating children.

“This film is a very important event, patriotic and uplifting. Perhaps thanks to it our children will reflect on how they should live, how to behave, what goals to set for themselves, and also what is true and what is false,” the Russian national said about her trip.

In 2025, the vice-rector of the Moscow State Institute of Culture together with two other staff members of the institution, visited Makiivka and Mariupol, where they reportedly held master classes for students of art schools.

The “Road to a Dream” festival, one of the Shevtsova foundation’s projects, has received support from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives three times.

As of May 2025, approximately 4,000 Ukrainian children living under occupation took part in the project over the course of its implementation.

Ukrainian artists protest Berlin afterparty

Representatives of Ukraine’s artistic and activist communities have publicly objected to the official afterparty in Berlin celebrating Charli XCX’s film The Moment, which premiered at the Berlinale.

According to those involved, Charli XCX’s team as well as the management of the venue were made aware of the organizers’ background and their reported family connections to structures operating in Russian-occupied territories. Despite appeals from Ukrainian cultural figures urging the event’s cancellation, the organizers ultimately chose to proceed with the afterparty.

Russian release announced for The Moment

The film The Moment is set to receive a theatrical release in Russia. Distribution rights have been acquired by the company Russian Report.

The film premiered globally at the Sundance Film Festival in late January. It is scheduled to open in Russian cinemas in April, although a specific release date has not yet been disclosed.

Conceived from an original idea by Charli XCX, the project functions as a fictional extension of her influential album Brat and the broader cultural wave known as brat summer. In the film, the artist portrays what is described as a “hellish version of herself,” while the central antagonist is played by Alexander Skarsgård.

Kylie Jenner appears in a cameo role, performing a fictionalized version of herself and taking part in the film’s promotional campaign. The cast also includes Rosanna Arquette, Haley Gates, and Rachel Sennott.

Cross-border mobility despite occupation links

Despite her documented involvement in projects aligned with Russian state cultural initiatives, including activities targeting Ukrainian children in territories under occupation, Zhanna Shevtsova continues to travel freely across Europe. Publicly available information indicates that she maintains regular access to cities such as Paris, where she is able to visit her daughter.

At the same time, Anastasia—who performs under the name Petit—reportedly travels frequently to Moscow, where she collaborates with Russian musicians and directors. She has remained active within Russia’s cultural scene while continuing to appear at events abroad. Petit is also reportedly in a relationship with filmmaker Gaspar Noé, who has traveled to Russia with her.

Earlier, it was reported that Russian soprano Anna Netrebko remains on the stages of major European opera houses despite ongoing objections from Ukrainian officials, activists, and cultural organizations.

Critics argue that she functions within Russia’s broader soft power framework and say that by continuing to host her performances, Western institutions risk legitimizing Kremlin influence amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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