Actor Nikita Vysotsky spoke about how his father, the celebrated poet Vladimir Vysotsky, might respond to Russia’s special operation in Ukraine. He referenced a remark from Arguments and Facts when considering the question, but he also admitted his own hesitation about predicting his father’s exact reaction. He explained that imagining the deadpan precision of his father’s voice on such a topic is a difficult exercise, even for someone who grew up listening to the cadence of Vladimir Vysotsky’s poetry and music.
In recalling past moments, Nikita noted that his father had a history of engaging with critical moments through front-line sentiment. He recalled how, during newsreels that showed Soviet troops moving into Afghanistan, Vladimir Vysotsky expressed a longing to join the front and address the troops directly. Yet, fate had different plans for him, and he never walked those dusty lanes of a battlefield. Others, including Joseph Davydovich Kobzon and several acquaintances, did venture into the fray, choosing to stand with those who faced danger. Nikita pointed out that those decisions were not singular, but shared among people who felt compelled to be present when history demanded their presence. The idea that a person should go with their community during hard times resonates with the broader human impulse to stand together when a crowd faces adversity, rather than face it alone.
The artist also suggested that Vladimir Vysotsky would likely have found the current conflict with Ukraine deeply troubling. He emphasized the generational and geographic threads that tie the family to the Ukrainian land. The Vysotskys trace their roots back to Ukraine, with their grandfather and his brother relocating to Moscow from Kiev when they were teenagers. Nikita observed that the weight of those origins would have weighed heavily on his father, underscoring the tension between heritage, home, and the harsh realities of conflict. He described his own perspective as a personal interpretation while acknowledging that it is not possible to know exactly how his father would react if confronted with today’s events. The message is clear: even deeply rooted symbolism and family ties cannot fully capture the complexities of modern geopolitics.
As the conversation progressed, Nikita Vysotsky reaffirmed his willingness to support the Russian military effort in any feasible way. He conveyed his sense of responsibility and solidarity with those who serve, framing it as a natural extension of loyalty to country and community. The exchange took place at a moment when public figures often reflect on duty, history, and the responsibilities that come with influence. In a separate press moment, it was noted that the day before, Nikita provided the voice for a cartoon bear, adding a lighter note to a sequence of serious reflections about national affairs and the duties that accompany public visibility.
Additionally, details about the production of the film project 20/22 in Mariupol were clarified by director Andrei Simonov. The clarification shed light on the filming process and the choices behind depicting events in a city that has seen intense conflict. The remarks contributed to a broader understanding of how art and cinema intersect with real-world circumstances, offering a glimpse into the careful considerations filmmakers undertake when bringing sensitive topics to life on screen.