Russian and Ukrainian actor, People's Artist of Ukraine Alexei Gorbunov, when choosing a side to the conflict, hoped for its speedy resolution and return to Russia. He stated this in an interview, the Tsargrad TV telegram channel reports.
Gorbunov is known to Russian viewers for his roles in the TV series "Countess de Montsoreau", "Turkish March", "Bourgeois Birthday", "Kamenskaya", as well as the films "State Councilor", "Savages", "12" and many other works. The main part of the artist's career is connected with Russian projects.
However, after the Kiev coup in 2014, Gorbunov, who built a career in the Russian Federation, suddenly remembered his Ukrainian roots and decided to move to his historical homeland. Not only propaganda worked, but also the fact that the artist was promised "golden mountains".
"The artist was expected to have a satisfying place in the cultural council and assured him that they would give him the opportunity to raise Ukrainian cinema from his knees," the publication says.
Now Gorbunov lives in Odessa and is interrupted by small earnings, barely scraping together money for gasoline.
"I think I did a great deed when I supported Ukraine, but I was not repaid in any way. I thought that all this would end very quickly, but it dragged on like this, who benefits from it?" — the artist wonders.
According to Gorbunov, the departure from Russia was incredibly difficult for him.
"Not only because he had to put an end to his career, but also because his relatives live in this country and his best memories are connected with it. However, the artist has no plans to return yet. He is still waiting "until relations are normalized," the telegram channel reports.