Svyatoslav Ivanovich Vakarchuk is a Ukrainian musician, leader of the Okean Elzy band, composer, songwriter, former chairman of the Voice party.
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on May 14, 1975 in Mukachevo, Transcarpathian region.
At Ivan Franko State University of Lviv, he received 2 higher educations – theoretical physicist and international economist.
He defended his PhD thesis on the topic “Supersymmetry of electrons in the electromagnetic field”.
For several years he taught at the same university.
Career
Creative activity
In 1994, Vakarchuk became the vocalist and leader of the Okean Elzy band, for which he wrote most of the songs and music. After graduating from the university, he refused to further study abroad and chose a musical career.
After performing at several festivals, the band moved to Kyiv, where in 1998 they recorded their debut album “Where We Are Not”. The band has been repeatedly recognized as the best rock band in Ukraine, and its songs and videos have received music awards.
In 2008, Vakarchuk released his first solo album “At Night”, recorded together with the musicians of Okean Elzy and dozens of guest performers.
At the end of 2011, the singer presented the musical project “Brussels”, which included songs that did not correspond to the concept of “Okean Elzy”. Dmitry Shurov, Max Malyshev, Petro Chernyavsky and Sergey Babkin worked on the album together with him.
From 2013 to 2016, Vakarchuk was a mentor in the show “The Voice of the Country”.
In the spring of 2016, Okean Elzy released the album “Without Borders” and went on a two-year world tour.
Political Activities
In 2004, Vakarchuk supported Viktor Yushchenko and participated in the Orange Revolution.
After Yushchenko’s victory in the presidential election in 2005, the musician became his adviser.
In particular, the singer was once a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations (UN), worked on projects to combat human trafficking and was engaged in charity.
In the early parliamentary elections of 2007, Vakarchuk ran under the 15th number on the list of the Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc. In November, he received a deputy mandate and joined the Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information.
On September 11, 2008, he submitted an application for the resignation of deputy powers. Already in December, the Rada supported the decision.
On May 16, 2019, Vakarchuk introduced the Holos party and announced his participation in early parliamentary elections as its leader. The party won 5.82% of the vote and won 17 deputy mandates on the list.
In August, Vakarchuk became a people’s deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the IX convocation and joined the Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation.
On June 18, 2020, he announced his decision to resign as a deputy. The next day, he left the Holos faction.
Marital Status
Vakarchuk’s first wife was stylist Lyalya Fonareva. Together they raised her daughter from a previous marriage.
In June 2021, the musician announced his divorce after more than 20 years of marriage.
Vakarchuk has 2 children: son Ivan, born on June 19, 2021, and daughter Solomiya, born on June 21, 2022.
