London to Host Russian Rapper Instasamka, Who Praised Putin and Embraced Pro-Kremlin Rhetoric

Russian rapper and influencer Instasamka, who has praised Vladimir Putin, embraced increasingly nationalist rhetoric during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, and publicly targeted fellow musicians over their perceived lack of loyalty to Russia, has announced a November performance in central London.

The artist, whose real name is Daria Yeropkina, is scheduled to perform an 18+ club show at London’s Emerald Theatre on November 14.

The venue sits at 8 Victoria Embankment, while the Eventbrite listing advertises the Russian star’s appearance as an “exclusive club show” running from 11 pm until 4:30 am. Her official website also lists London as part of her 2026–2027 world tour.

The planned appearance comes despite a public record that stretches far beyond the provocative lyrics and social-media scandals on which Instasamka built her career.

Years before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Instasamka explicitly praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin in her song “Bless,” declaring him “the best president” and presenting the statement as a “fact.” The track was released years before the invasion, but the rhetoric did not disappear as Russia’s war continued.

In November 2024, during the third year of the full-scale war, Instasamka and the Russian band Leningrad released a track titled “Russians Forward,” built around the repeated chant “Russians, forward.”

That same period also saw the release of “Pumping Oil,” a track portraying wealthy Russians flying to Courchevel, travelling business class and celebrating what the lyrics call “Russian style.”

Instasamka later told Russian journalist Ksenia Sobchak that she had originally conceived the track as “a gift to Russia,” adding: “Our country—we pump oil. We pump the world.”

Her political positioning became considerably more explicit in 2025. In July, Instasamka publicly attacked fellow performers Dora and Maybe Baby, accusing them of effectively betraying Russia and spreading harmful ideas among Russian youth.

Among her complaints was Dora’s association with music by rapper Face—who left Russia after condemning the invasion—and Ukrainian musician Yurii Kaplan of Valentin Strykalo, who has publicly supported Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Instasamka questioned why artists she portrayed as hostile to Russia were still allowed to perform in Russian cities and appear on state-controlled Channel One.

“Today they perform for Russian people, for our youth,” she wrote, accusing the singers of producing “destructive content” and asking: “What are you doing here?”

Days later, Instasamka appeared at Russia’s Public Chamber, a state-established consultative body, to discuss proposals concerning children and online content. Reports at the time noted that the appearance followed years in which the singer herself had faced pressure and concert cancellations from Russia’s conservative censorship apparatus.

Her transformation—from a performer targeted by Russia’s morality campaign into an artist publicly questioning the patriotism of other musicians—was striking enough that even figures within Russia’s establishment fought over her new role.

Read more

Category

World

Wives of Top Russian Officials Seek to Overturn European Union Sanctions

May 28, 2026 20:10

The controversy has already followed Instasamka beyond Russia. In April 2023, then-Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs placed her on Latvia’s list of undesirable persons, imposing an indefinite entry ban. The decision forced the cancellation of a planned Riga performance.

A claim circulating at the time that Instasamka had donated 900,000 rubles (about $12,000) to the Russian military was later shown to be unsubstantiated, and the singer publicly denied making such a donation.

Her own public rhetoric, however, requires no such disputed allegation. Just weeks before announcing the London show, Instasamka declared that she was leaving the Russian music market, had moved to Dubai, wanted to record her songs in English and intended to pursue a career abroad.

One day later, she admitted that the announcement had been a publicity stunt designed to generate attention for a new release. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said, adding that she would never stop making music for her existing audience.

Read more

Category

Latest news

How Russia Turns Circuses and Theaters Into Yet Another War Propaganda Machine

Apr 02, 2026 17:38

Now, the performer who praised Putin, released “Russians Forward” during Russia’s invasion, called a pro-Russian song a “gift to Russia,” and publicly questioned whether artists deemed insufficiently patriotic should be allowed on Russian stages is preparing to take one of her own in the heart of London.

Instasamka’s planned London appearance comes as British cultural institutions face growing scrutiny over hosting Russian performers with ties to the Kremlin.

In 2025, Russian soprano Anna Netrebko—long dubbed “Putin’s diva” by critics—continued performing at London’s publicly funded Royal Opera House despite protests from Ukrainian diplomats and activists, who accused European venues of normalizing Kremlin-linked cultural figures during Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Protect Ukrainian Skies

Subscribe to Sky Defense