Ukrainian serviceman Oleksandr Kiriyenko, who was released from Russian captivity, has publicly responded to American rapper Azealia Banks’s mocking comments. The singer posted photos of the soldier before and after his captivity on the social network X and wrote an offensive caption: "Well, something had to stop his fat ass from eating." The post caused a wave of indignation among users, but Banks did not respond to the backlash.
Oleksandr Kiriyenko has published a video message in response on his Facebook page. It was filmed in front of the destroyed Mykolaiv regional administration building. In the video, Kiriyenko called for accountability, noting that he supports freedom of speech but that conscience and honor should be its limits. "The other day, I saw a post by the American singer Azealia Banks who mocked my photos and physical condition after captivity. I am Ukrainian, and I support freedom of speech. Each of us has the right to express our opinion. However, our conscience and honor should impose certain restrictions. Azealia, I hope none of your loved ones experience the 'diet' Ukrainian prisoners of war endure: constant humiliation, beatings, and hunger. I know the tragedy that African Americans have experienced, and I have experienced firsthand how captivity breaks the human soul. It is up to each of us how we deal with this experience. Torture is a crime; captivity has no place in a civilized world," he said.
The photos that were the subject of mockery depict a soldier before and after his time in Russian captivity. Before his capture, Kiriyenko had a strong physique; after nearly three years in captivity, he had lost a significant amount of weight, suffered leg injuries, and exhibited signs of physical exhaustion. Kiriyenko was captured on April 12, 2022, while defending Mariupol. He was held in Colony No. 10 in Russia, where he survived torture and lost 40 kg. He returned home on February 5, 2025, as part of a prisoner exchange.
This is not the first time Azilya Banks has made controversial statements. In 2022, she declared her adoration for Vladimir Putin, calling him her "favorite supervillain" and claiming that Ukraine "has no right to exist." She also placed responsibility for the war on the US, NATO, and the EU and called Russia a "powerful nation." The rapper has previously found herself at the center of scandals due to her racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic statements.
Author: Danylo Pievchev