“It has become embarrassing – you live in chocolate, and the children sit under shelling” – Zheleznyakov about master classes in Donetsk and Lugansk

Choreographer Alexei Zheleznyakov said in an interview with whether he plans to visit Donbass again in the future with master classes.

Zheleznyakov and his team gave a number of free master classes for children of Donbass in Donetsk and Lugansk from May 25 to 31, 2022.

“If I remember correctly now: I was sitting in the kitchen, drinking tea, watching the latest sad news from Donbass – they showed it to the children. I found myself thinking that there were athletes and clubs there too. Why don’t I go and give them a vacation? On the same day, I wrote a message on social networks, something like: “Guys who have access to ice rinks or federations in Donbass, let me know.” People reacted immediately: everything was decided in a few days. We announced a fundraiser, many gifts were sent to the children, we helped with funding and I contributed money from my personal funds. We went there fully loaded, everything was great. Thank goodness everyone came back safe and sound.

— The family was not against your initiative?

“At first there was a conversation that maybe we shouldn’t do this. We sat and talked with my wife – in the end she supported me and told me that it was a good and good thing, she just asked me to come back alive. She has the right concepts.

— Weren’t you worried about your life?

“Only fools are afraid of nothing.” You can walk along the road, drive a car in Donbass – and it will arrive. But people live in such conditions for 8 years and work, go about their business and raise their children. They can, but you are afraid that several days will come to give you joy. This thought made me ashamed – you live in chocolate, everything is fine and there are children sitting under the bombing. Every minute they realize that they may not return home. I couldn’t sit, shake and not go, I immediately gathered a team and went to them.

— Did I understand correctly that the place where you gave your master classes was bombed?

— Yes, a luxurious club, the former Palais des Pionniers. A lot of money was invested, they repaired it, but the day after the master class it was hit by a HIMARS missile system. We can say that higher powers saved us.

— Were there people in the building at the time of the bombing?

– No, thank God, there was no one, because most of the children are busy.

—Are you planning to go back?

– Of course we wanted to go back, but to some extent with this visit we can put the children in danger. Bad guys can send coordinates and time to enemies, and a bomb can arrive. When our troops drive out the adversaries from Donetsk, it will then be possible to leave. It will be better for everyone,” Zheleznyakov told .

Throughout his career in Russia, the choreographer collaborated with figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze; Zheleznyakov left the team in November.