Hundreds of young Russians gathered in a historic city square and sang a banned song urging for the removal of Vladimir Putin. The event took place at Kazanskaya Square in St Petersburg, where the crowd, including street musicians, performed ‘Cooperative Swan Lake’, a song by Ukrainian musician Ivan Alexeyev, also known as rapper Noize MC. The song, deemed “extremist” by a court in May 2025, has become a symbol of anti-war sentiment among Russian youths protesting against Putin’s government and the invasion of Ukraine.
Referencing the Soviet tradition of airing Swan Lake during political turmoil, the protesters used the song to express their discontent with the current regime. Chants such as “Where have you been for eight years, you f***ing monsters? I want to watch ballet, let the swans dance. Let your grandpa tremble with excitement for Swan Lake” echoed through the square.
The lyrics of the song criticize Putin’s prolonged rule, with lines like “When the czar dies, we’ll dance again. The old man still clings to his throne, afraid to let go. Old man in the bunker, still thinks it’s nineteen eighty-five.” Noize MC fled to Lithuania following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
During the gathering, 18-year-old Diana Loginova led the chants and was subsequently arrested by the police. Her mother, Irina, defended her daughter, stating that Diana was not politically motivated but simply singing a popular song by one of her favorite artists. Irina emphasized that Diana is a patriotic Russian who has no intention of supporting Ukraine.
The video of the protest comes amidst a series of successful strikes on Russia by Ukraine. Recent drone attacks targeted key Russian infrastructure, leading to fuel shortages and surging gasoline prices across the country. Ukraine’s intensified drone campaign aims to weaken Putin’s war efforts and disrupt Russia’s oil and gas operations.
