Russian patriotic singer uses AI to have Kremlin's opponents sing his chorus

May 31, 2026

Entertainment
Russian patriotic singer uses AI to have Kremlin's opponents sing his chorus

Moscow [Russia], May 31: Russian singer Shaman used AI to have prominent opponents of the Kremlin sing his patriotic ​chorus about "Mama Russia" in a music video released on Friday.
Shaman, stage name of 34-year-old Yaroslav Dronov, has gained significant popularity in Russia with patriotic songs such as "I am Russian" ​which extols the passion and exceptionalism which he ​perceives to Russia enjoy.
In a post on social ⁠media on Thursday, Shaman introduced his new song - "Russia ​is Mama", adding that Kremlin opponents would never be ​forgiven by the Russian people for criticizing Russia.
"In my video, they sing for Russia for free," he said. "Russia must never be ​betrayed."
In the video, Shaman sits beside an icon at ​a desk in what looks like a security service office, looking ⁠files and photographs of Kremlin critics including Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Yury Dud, Zemfira, Noize MC and Oleg Tinkoff.
He then directs them to all sing his chorus: "Russia is ​the mother - you ​are in ⁠the very heart. There is only one. She is with you to the edge."
The ​video ends with a sniper sight on ​Shaman's ⁠head.
In a response to the video, Khodorkovsky, a former tycoon who was jailed in 2003 and now lives ⁠outside ​Russia, said that his homeland was ​the Soviet Union and that those who started the war in Ukraine ​were enemies.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Cooperation