Russia has always made art and culture highly politicized, using past accomplishments as reflections of its power, says Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, according to Ukrinform.

Gelb is convinced: those who believe that art and culture are separate from politics are mistaken.

He emphasizes that art and culture are politics, and Russia has always been the country that has politicized them the most. 

He notes that art is a symbol and expression of civilization, whereas Russia has treated it as a propaganda tool, using its past achievements, its ballerinas, and its stars as a projection of Russian cultural power.

In contrast, Gelb believes it is vital to support Ukrainian artists. He explains his ongoing engagement, including the creation of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, as part of an effort to ensure Ukrainians feel supported by the world, especially in moments when they may feel isolated.

That is one of the reasons behind his visit to Ukraine this week: to meet with First Lady Olena Zelenska and discuss various cultural initiatives.

Earlier, The Royal Opera House in London became the center of a scandal after announcing the program for its new cinema season.

London’s Royal Opera House chooses Putin’s ally to open new season, while Russia’s war kills 208 artists in Ukraine

In it, Anna Netrebko, a Russian opera diva known for her support of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and Russian soldiers and collaborators, will play the lead role in the Tosca performance.

Netrebko, a trusted figure in Putin’s election campaigns, is included in Ukraine’s sanctions list and is also listed in the Myrotvorets database as an accomplice to the occupiers during the Donbas war.

The Royal Opera House in London has become the center of a scandal after announcing the program for its new cinema season. In it, Anna Netrebko, a Russian opera diva known for her support of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and Russian soldiers and collaborators, will play the lead role in the Tosca performance, Espreso reports. 

Netrebko’s performance is scheduled for 1 October 2025. This particular production will open the cinema season, which is set to be broadcast in 1,500 cinemas worldwide. Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serhii Kyslytsia, has harshly criticized the theatre’s decision, calling it a “global disgrace.”

Despite this, London chose Netrebko to open the season, overshadowing the appointment of the theatre’s new music director, Jakub Hrůša. At a time when the world is fighting for moral clarity in the realm of culture, the theatre appears to still be playing by the old rules.

The masterpiece that never was: five lives behind Russia’s hidden cultural massacre

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war, the Russians have killed 208 artists and 107 Ukrainian and foreign journalists.

In June 2025, Ukrainian actor-turned-soldier Yurii Felipenko, who was 32, was killed in action. The actor began his screen career in 2014, appeared in numerous famous Ukrainian TV series, and also performed extensively at Kyiv’s Academic Drama Theater. 

“Yura is gone. Yura was, without exaggeration, my world, my soul, my light. It’s impossible to convey this loss. I feel like I’ve been destroyed,” his wife Kateryna wrote on Instagram.

His role involved operating drones, a critical component of modern warfare.