Singer Tatyana Piskareva: Those who have fled need to realize that there is no one waiting for us anywhere.

About runaway artists, participation in the "Supermama" show, and scandals with other participants, as well as Regina Todorenko, contemporary music, and personal matters — in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the Honored Artist of Ukraine, Tatyana Piskareva, shared her thoughts.

The artist has been performing since 1997, and her songs "Sister," "I Love You," and "Solov'ina" have already become folk classics. She was a soloist with the Exemplary Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and has turned down tracks in Russian.

RBC-Ukraine asked Piskareva what she thinks about "sharovarschina," why she couldn't stay abroad, and how she deals with stress.

– You were a vocal coach on two seasons of "Fabrika Zirok." What can you say about Regina Todorenko? What was she like on the "Factory"?

– She was determined and active. She wanted to achieve her goals, wanted to learn, always asked questions while we were preparing numbers because we were all like one family: all the coaches and specialists. I gave her many creative, vocal, and breathing tips. We never even imagined that such an unacceptable and incomprehensible situation would occur for humanity and the universe.

She was so open, loud, and bright. It seems to me that when she started building relationships in Russia, it was, firstly, connected to her determination. Perhaps she believed that Ukraine should submit to her only after she conquers the Russian show business, that's what I think. I can't speak for her, but back then, it felt like it was in the subconscious that you needed to go to Moscow, conquer it, and then you would become known or popular in Ukraine.

This opinion existed for many years. As if it was the first step. But everyone forgets that the first steps were taken in Ukraine. Because Ukraine has the best specialists in educational institutions. They study here and then go abroad. Well, now this is out of the question. You have to be completely foolish and out of your mind when there is such grief in your country, and you go somewhere to conquer something. I don't know why or for what. Well, that's already unacceptable.

– What do you think about her behavior and actions now, in the context of the full-scale war?

– It seems to me that the younger generation of artists who sing now would never even think of such things. Because it's the right position, because I love my country, the conditions, my parents, my family, my homeland. And that's it. After that, you are either smart or foolish. I think it comes down to money. I think it’s the status of money. She got married, you know, and probably enjoyed her status.

You know, I have this picture of the world that if I crossed someone out, then I crossed them out. And today we subconsciously cross out many people. Not intentionally, because Regina didn't do anything bad to me, but today she openly broadcasts a traitorous position. She simply forgot where she comes from, what she represents, and from where she started drinking water. And she just spits in that well.

Tatyana Piskareva spoke out about the traitor Todorenko (photo provided by the singer)

– You were a soloist with the Exemplary Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is a very important and responsible role. What do you remember most about that period?

– I have lived my whole life with the ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The fact that it was written in my work record that I was a soloist means only that I was very lucky to be part of such a large professional team of high-level musicians under the direction of Colonel Dmitry Zhanovich Antoniuk. He is simply an incredible, legendary conductor, uniting around him great musicians, and I was lucky that he saw potential in me when I was young.

Now I am grown up, and we have been working together my entire life. They played and accompanied my three solo concerts. So, we have been collaborating for life. And any performance, if they invite me, I immediately take all the scores, rehearse, and we go on stage. So our collaboration continues.

– What can you say about male artists like Potap, Oleg Vynnyk, and Vlad Yama? They left and are broadcasting this on social media. And already being abroad, they have had multiple scandals.

– I myself was forced to leave my home at the beginning of the war. My husband put me, our two children, and our dog in the car and took us to the border. We crossed the border on foot because there were so many people. It was horrifying. And I have to obey my husband for a year and a half, remembering every day that first and foremost, I am a mother, that the children are the future, that my girls need to be healthy, mentally resilient, and they will return to Ukraine when the war is over. They will create new songs and have children. Because my husband set me that task, I separated myself as a creative person because I was a mother.

When I realized that I couldn't do anything about it, even though I held three all-Ukrainian international festivals abroad, even if I united Ukrainian refugee children around me and we worked together... I couldn't do anything about it, I just understood that if I didn't return to Ukraine, I simply wouldn't be able to breathe or live. I felt like I was uprooted, like a tree without roots. I returned and I am happy.

So everyone who, let's say, ran away needs to understand. First of all, no one is waiting for us anywhere. Secondly, we are not needed at all. Thirdly, if we are needed, it is only by our Ukraine and Ukrainians. If these people realize that they indeed fled, then they just need to understand that there is no peace for them, and no solace anywhere, except to return home.

It is never too late. Get up, return, look people in the eye, explain your situation, and start working for Ukraine. It's important.

– So you believe they can still return, that they have the moral right to come back?

– They have indeed lost a lot. Maybe everything. But they need to return home to live, to feel needed. Perhaps they should apologize a hundred times to society. For weakness, for fears. They need to return, and that’s all.

How they will be treated — that’s another question. If they are forgiven, they will see and will work. Maybe I’m just very kind. But they need to return. Even if you made a wrong step, just know how to apologize. And that's it.

0Piskareva answered whether Ukrainians will accept Potap and Vynnyk (photo provided by the singer)

– You have performed abroad. What do Ukrainians who cannot return home say?

– I had this experience; I sang abroad for a year and a half, worked as a volunteer, taught children. A lot was experienced during this time of life. I want to say that, first of all, "cannot return home" only applies when you have no home. It is either lost or destroyed, or there are many other issues. In all other cases, I find it hard to give advice to people, but I would return. Because only here do I feel like a person, nowhere else.

– Now most artists, including yourself, have refused to perform tracks in Russian. But, for example, Nastya Kamensky said that in Ukraine she will sing exclusively in Ukrainian, but abroad she can allow herself to sing in Russian. Have you been asked to perform "songs from the past," and what is your opinion on all this?

– I am categorically against it, categorically and with three exclamation marks. This should not be done. That's it, we forgot, we cut it off; this should never be done again. Life has already drawn a line between "before" and "after." It will never be the same again. I am categorically against it.

It doesn't matter where you are. As soon as you cross the border into another state and someone addresses you, even if they are your Ukrainians and they ask you: "Oh, come on, sing." No! When addressing, communicating in social life, singing, discussing languages, you go out in public with some message — exclusively in Ukrainian. At home, in everyday life — your personal choice, that’s your private life.

And you must be an example, carry the Ukrainian word, the Ukrainian language, the opinion, the Ukrainian call, the message. So that the world sees every time that there is an opinion, there is a position, there is an address from a Ukrainian person. Until the end of the war, we don’t know how long it will take. And every time you just have to remind the world that we need help and support. That’s