The Ukrainian Embassy in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has expressed concern over a performance by Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko at the Luxembourg Philharmonie, scheduled for 15 June 2026.
This was reported by Ukrayinska Pravda, citing a statement from the diplomatic mission.
For many years, Russia has used culture as a tool of international influence, and during a full-scale war against Ukraine, any public appearances by representatives of the Russian cultural establishment cannot be viewed outside this context, the embassy’s statement notes.
The embassy also draws attention to Netrebko’s ties to the Russian political leadership in previous years, particularly her participation in state cultural initiatives and her past public support for the Russian authorities. In the Ukrainian side’s view, this creates additional ethical and reputational risks for cultural institutions that host such performances.
“She expressed support for Vladimir Putin during his presidential campaigns, received state awards from him and participated in initiatives promoting Russia’s official cultural narratives,” the embassy emphasises.
The diplomats stress that, while Russia continues its attacks on Ukrainian cities and cultural heritage, the participation of artists who have not taken a clear stance on their state’s actions is perceived in Ukraine as a sensitive and traumatic issue.
The embassy reported that it had informed the relevant authorities in Luxembourg of its position and called for a review of the circumstances surrounding the event. At the same time, Ukraine expressed gratitude for the support Luxembourg has provided during the war and emphasised the importance of upholding the principles of responsibility and international law.
Earlier in London, several hundred protesters gathered outside the Royal Opera House. They called for the cancellation of performances by Anna Netrebko after organisers ignored previous appeals.
Anna Netrebko is a Russian opera singer who has also held Austrian citizenship since 2006 and currently resides in Austria. She served as a representative of Vladimir Putin during election campaigns and received state awards from him. In 2014, she expressed support for the self-proclaimed ‘DPR’ and ‘LPR’ and was photographed holding the flag of the so-called ‘Novorossiya’. In 2022, under pressure from her European representatives, she issued an anti-war statement in an effort to continue her career in Europe.
In January 2023, she was added to Ukraine’s sanctions list. Following the outbreak of the full-scale war, Netrebko was dismissed from the Metropolitan Opera in New York because of her ties to the Kremlin.
She was later denied permission to perform at a concert in Stuttgart. The singer was also suspended from performances at the Bavarian State Opera and La Scala in Milan.
However, by the autumn of 2022, Netrebko had resumed performing across Europe and elsewhere in the world.
In February 2025, Anna Netrebko was due to perform at a gala concert with Palm Beach Opera in Florida. It was her first appearance in the United States in more than five years.
The Russian opera singer last appeared on an American stage in 2019, before the pandemic. For nearly two decades, she was a leading soprano at the Metropolitan Opera.