Russian ballet disguised as Ukrainian ballet performed in Sweden - media investigation
The Ballet of Ukraine, a ballet company that performed in Swedish cities, turned out to have connections in Russia. Funds from the tour are being transferred to Moscow.
This is stated in an investigation by the Swedish publication SVT, Censor.NET reports.
As noted, the company behind the so-called Ballet of Ukraine is registered in Moscow, and the proceeds from the performances go to accounts associated with a Russian millionaire.
Journalists said that in the winter of 2024, the Ballet of Ukraine came to Sweden, positioning itself as "culture from Kyiv." The posters themselves were in Ukrainian colors, and the audience was invited to watch Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker.
The Swedes came to the performance and thought they were supporting Ukraine. However, it turned out that the ballet was Russian.
Ties to Russia
The organizer of the events was a Russian entrepreneur. He is registered with the Norwegian event company Touring Actors through which the ballet performances are organized.
The entrepreneur denied any ties to Russia and refused to give an interview to SVT.
The event company Touring Actors presented itself as a Ukrainian organization, using a Kyiv address that turned out to be fake.
However, records show that it operates on a Russian server and is owned by a Moscow-based company. The office of the ballet in Kyiv is located in a shopping center.
In addition, of the 14 dancers listed on the organization's website, at least seven are actively working in Russia.
The ballet's performances were paid to the Gutschwald AI Center, a company registered in Switzerland but owned by a former manager of the Russian Sberbank. Although the Russian confirms that he received money from Swedish municipalities, he assures that it has nothing to do with the performances and that he received the money as a "debt payment."
The Swedish authorities have already intervened in a similar case. In December, another "Ukrainian" ballet company, Heritage Ballet, was banned from performing in Sweden after security officials established its ties to the Russian state.
Back in 2022, the National Opera of Ukraine repeatedly warned about so-called "clone troupes" that fraudulently use the name of Ukraine to perform abroad.
"They are making money from our misfortune," Lana Roxy, a spokeswoman for the National Opera in Kyiv, told SVT. "These groups are exploiting Ukraine's reputation, helping Russia to spread disinformation and make money from the war."
In December 2023, the Ballet of Ukraine performed in at least eight cities in Sweden, including Lund, Lerum, and Östersund, staging productions such as The Nutcracker.
Further investigation revealed that the Ballet of Ukraine had close ties to the St. Petersburg Ballet in Russia. It also used the same press materials as the Moscow Ballet Theater, a Russian company that is now in liquidation.
