---
title: "Dasha Astafieva, Olya Tsybulska, and Dmytro Kadnay: Where Are the Stars of 'Fabrika Zirok-1' Now"
description: "We look back at how the careers and lives of the first-season participants of Ukraine's 'Fabrika Zirok' turned out, from Olya Tsybulska and Dasha Astafieva to Dmytro Kadnay and Zhenya Milkovsky."
date: 2026-10-14T05:16:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/where-are-fabrika-zirok-1-participants-now
tags: [fabrika-zirok, dasha-astafieva, olya-tsybulska, dmytro-kadnay, ukrainian-music]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Dasha Astafieva, Olya Tsybulska, and Dmytro Kadnay: Where Are the Stars of 'Fabrika Zirok-1' Now

## 🎯 Key Points

- The 'Fabrika Zirok-1' project launched in 2007 and discovered many bright Ukrainian artists.
- Olya Tsybulska builds a solo career in Ukraine, while her former duet partner Oleksandr Bodyansky lives in Russia.
- Dasha Astafieva left the pop stage, develops the UnderBooks project, and actively volunteers.
- Dmytro Kadnay and Zhenya Milkovsky continued successful music careers in independent projects.

Back in 2007, the Ukrainian music scene received a massive boost with the launch of the reality show 'Fabrika Zirok' (Star Factory). The television project introduced a whole galaxy of artists whose paths subsequently diverged significantly. While some participants remained devoted to the Ukrainian stage, engaging in volunteering and cultural initiatives, others found themselves abroad, and the current status of a few raises questions amid historical upheavals.

### Winners and Crossroads: Olya Tsybulska and Oleksandr Bodyansky

Olya Tsybulska and Oleksandr Bodyansky triumphed in the first season as members of the dynamic duo 'Opasnye Svyazi' (Dangerous Liaisons). After the show, their creative and romantic partnership lasted for about a year before they parted ways. While Tsybulska focused on her solo career in Ukraine, Bodyansky later moved to Russia. Following the full-scale invasion, Olya publicly shared details of their phone conversation where her former colleague dismissed the reality of the war. As of 2026, Oleksandr Bodyansky continues to reside in Russia, completely disappearing from Ukraine's public sphere.

### Dasha Astafieva's Evolution: From Pop Stage to Culture and Volunteering

A prime example of radical transformation after the show is Dasha Astafieva. Having gained nationwide and international fame as part of the provocative pop group NikitA, the artist eventually moved away from the pop genre altogether. Today, Astafieva actively develops Ukrainian-language cultural initiatives, notably the UnderBooks audio-book mobile app. Furthermore, she is heavily involved in volunteer work, supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces and participating in major state-level cultural events.

### Musical Continuators: Dmytro Kadnay and Zhenya Milkovsky

Dmytro Kadnay followed a rich creative trajectory, establishing himself as the frontman of the indie-pop and electronic band KADNAY. The band successfully experiments with sound, participated in the national selection for Eurovision 2018, and continues to release conceptual records. Meanwhile, Zhenya Milkovsky founded the ultra-popular rock band 'Nervy' after the show. Following the events of 2022, Milkovsky openly opposed the war, severed ties with Russia, and continued his musical activities outside the country.

### Other Fates of First-Season Alumni

The fates of other participants spread across the globe. Elizabeth Anum-Dorhuso (BigBeta), after working as a backing vocalist and media personality in Ukraine, ultimately returned to professional activities in Russia. Katya Velasquez, following her romance and marriage to musician Vasyl Bondarchuk, emigrated to the US, where the couple raises a child and leads a private family life abroad, occasionally appearing at diaspora social events.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Даша Астафьева, Оля Цыбульская и Дмитрий Каднай: где сейчас участники "Фабрики зірок-1"](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/people/dasha-astaf-eva-olya-tsibulska-ta-dmitro-1791888108.html) - Основной источник информации о текущем статусе и деятельности участников первого сезона.
- [Астафьева, Барских, Матиас: какие имена открыла "Фабрика звезд"](https://kp.ua/culture/a731835-astafeva-barskikh-matias-kakie-imena-otkryla-fabrika-zvezd) - Дополнительный исторический контекст проекта.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Who won the first season of 'Fabrika Zirok'?
**A:** The winners of the first season were Olya Tsybulska and Oleksandr Bodyansky as part of the 'Opasnye Svyazi' duo.

### Q: What is Dasha Astafieva doing now?
**A:** Dasha Astafieva develops the UnderBooks audio-book project, volunteers, and promotes Ukrainian culture.

### Q: Where is Zhenya Milkovsky now?
**A:** Zhenya Milkovsky, founder of the band 'Nervy', left Russia after the full-scale invasion, condemned the war, and tours abroad.