Zelenskyy imposes sanctions on 5 Russian cultural propagandists linked to Venice Biennale

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to apply sanctions against five Russian cultural figures who justify aggression and spread Russian propaganda at international events.

The corresponding decree No. 305/2026 was published on the website of the head of state.

According to the presidential press service, all sanctioned individuals are linked to Russia’s participation in the 61st Venice Biennale.

In particular, sanctions were applied against Anastasia Karneeva—the daughter of the sanctioned deputy general director of Rostec—who since 2021 has been appointed commissioner of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale and will represent Russia there this year.

Sanctions were also applied against the special representative of the Russian president for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, violinist Valeria Oleynik, who after 2014 repeatedly visited temporarily occupied Crimea to support aggression, singer Ilya Tatakov, who participated in the creation of a propaganda film in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk region, and vocalist Artem Nikolaev, who in 2025 took part in propaganda events in Crimea.

"Russia’s participation in the Venice Biennale is not about culture, but about using international platforms to legitimize aggression and spread propaganda. Either you are against the regime of Russia and have access to the cultural space of the free world, or you serve the propaganda, receive sanctions, and participate in the ‘cucumber’ festival," said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, advisor and presidential commissioner for sanctions policy.

Ukraine will provide partners with all necessary information to synchronize sanctions in their jurisdictions.

Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna thanked international strategic intelligence firm Molfar Intelligence, which analysed and provided information on 34 participants of the Russian pavilion in record time. "It was this research that formed the basis for the subsequent work of the Culture Ministry team, colleagues from the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Security and Defence Council," she wrote on Facebook.

Specifically, it is noted that Anastasia Karneeva - commissioner of the Russian pavilion - has direct ties to Russia’s military-industrial complex: her father is a deputy director of state corporation Rostec and a former FSB general. Funding for the pavilion and her company Smart Art comes from Leonid Mikhelson, a Russian oligarch who is also under sanctions. His company Novatek is involved in supplying the Russian army, providing gas to the Russian defence ministry and defence industry enterprises, as well as participating in financing and recruiting people for the war against Ukraine. Between 2020 and 2023, Karneeva was a co-owner of a company whose shareholders included Rostec, further confirming her business ties with Russia’s defence sector.

Mikhail Shvydkoi - special representative of the Russian president for international cultural cooperation — directly initiated and publicly announced Russia’s return to the Biennale. He has worked directly on implementing Kremlin foreign policy since 2008 and has received state awards from Vladimir Putin.

Illia Tatakov - soloist of the Intrada and MusicAeterna ensembles - publicly supports Russia’s "special military operation," expresses hostile views towards Ukraine and the West, and is one of the most controversial participants in the performance.

Artem Nikolaev - soloist of the Intrada vocal ensemble - performs with a group that receives direct funding from the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Presidential Grants Foundation and openly supports the war against Ukraine.

Valeria Oleinik - violinist of the Russian National Orchestra - has repeatedly visited temporarily occupied Crimea since 2014, participated in propaganda events organised by Rosmolodezh and regularly performs before the leadership of Russian state bodies.

"The sanctions include asset freezes, a ban on entering Ukrainian territory, the cessation of cultural exchanges and restrictions on economic activity. This decision is part of Ukraine’s systemic efforts to prevent Russia from using international cultural platforms to legitimise the war and whitewash war crimes," the deputy prime minister said.