---
title: "YAKTAK on Max Korzh's Concert: 'Language is a Border'. Why the Ukrainian Artist No Longer Listens to Russian Music"
description: "Ukrainian singer YAKTAK responded harshly to the topic of Max Korzh's concerts with Ukrainians in the audience: 'Language is a border'. The artist admitted that he listened to Russian music before the war, but now cannot do so due to genocide. Read details about the scandals at the concert in Bucharest and the artist's position 👇🇺🇦"
date: 2026-06-03T05:04:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/yaktak-on-max-korzh-concert-language-is-a-border
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# YAKTAK on Max Korzh's Concert: 'Language is a Border'. Why the Ukrainian Artist No Longer Listens to Russian Music

![Max Korzh and YAKTAK: Ukrainian artist YAKTAK explains why he stopped listening to Russian music after Max Korzh’s concert](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/03/yaktak-o-koncerte-maksa-korzhya-yazyk-eto-granitsa/yaktak-o-koncerte-maksa-korzhya-yazyk-eto-granitsa-1.webp)

Ukrainian performer YAKTAK (Yaroslav Karpuk) commented on the heated discussions surrounding Max Korzh's concert abroad, where Ukrainian audience members were present. The artist clearly stated his position: for him, February 24, 2022, became a point of no return, after which perceiving Russian music became impossible.

### 'Language is a Border'

In an interview, YAKTAK admitted that he does not follow the activities of Russian artists and does not know the details of who exactly attends their performances. However, his attitude towards the very fact of listening to Russian music in the context of war is categorical.

"I don't follow it at all. I don't know what artists are out there. On February 24, 2022, everything I knew ended for me, so I don't know who went or who performs. Well, of course, it's negative, because no matter what anyone says, it's Russian music, it's in the Russian language, and language is a border," the singer stated.

In the artist's opinion, under current conditions, Ukrainians need to focus on supporting their own culture. "I think that at this time we need to support our performers, Ukrainian music, and there is so much of it. It is so beautiful with us. We just need to hear it," added YAKTAK.

### From Playlist to War: How Perception Changed

The performer was candid about the fact that before the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian music was present in his playlist. He described his musical taste of that time as a reflection of the general environment: about 70% was English music, 20% was Ukrainian, and approximately 10% was Russian.

"In my player, there was somewhere around 70 percent, probably, English music, 20 percent Ukrainian, and of course, 10 percent Russian music too. But, well, just everyone around me was listening, and I couldn't not hear it and couldn't not live in it," the artist recounted.

However, after February 24, the situation changed radically. YAKTAK explained that daily attacks and the genocide of the Ukrainian people made it impossible to perceive Russian culture as something neutral.

"But the genocide of the Ukrainian people has been continuing for centuries. They have been killing, torturing, and deporting us for centuries. Everything that happens every day over our cities. How can one listen to Russian music after all this? Even the tongue, finger, or ear won't turn to turn it on," the singer concluded.

### Scandals Surrounding Max Korzh's Concert

The occasion for discussion was the events that took place on May 23 at Max Korzh's concert in Bucharest. On social media, particularly on Threads, users actively discussed not only the presence of Ukrainians in the hall but also controversial episodes related to security and the artist's behavior.

According to eyewitness accounts, security guards at the entrance confiscated Ukrainian flags, while Russian banners, according to users, were allowed. Additional resonance was caused by Korzh's reaction to the audience chanting the phrase "Putin is a f*ggot." The artist interrupted the performance and asked not to shout any names at the concert except his own.

This reaction was perceived by part of the audience as an attempt to "sit on two stools." Critics reminded that, although Korzh condemned the war, he avoided explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor. In 2022, he released an anti-war song with lyrics stating that "the one who defends their home is right," however, critics believe his position remains not clear enough. Similar discussions arose earlier, for example, after the artist's concert in Poland, where he also called to "stop the war" without specifying the addressee.