Ukrainian gymnast about performing in front of Putin, the atrocities of the Deryugins and the burning separatist tank

photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / depo.ua

We meet with the girl in the rehearsal room. Now Vasina is preparing for the presentation of a new act in Las Vegas. After the speech, he plans to raise money from the diaspora and go to visit the Ukrainian military with the things they need.

So far, Vasina is waiting for a test - the girl managed to break two toes two weeks before the show. However, Vasina is not going to cancel the trip. She admits: Ukrainian athletes are accustomed to much worse.

The gymnast told depo.ua about the conflicts in the United States over Ukraine, four months of working for the Russians and trips to the ATO.

IN A QUARTER OF NEW YORK YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE USSR

- Nadezhda, you are announcing a round table in Las Vegas regarding the situation in Ukraine. What are you trying to achieve?

- There is a large Ukrainian diaspora in the USA. It's the largest in Chicago. For two years now, Euromaidans have been taking place in the city, in which I participate. We supported the Kyiv actions, went on strike near Obama's headquarters. Now we are also getting together and thinking about how we can help.

There are also a lot of Ukrainians in Vegas, but everyone is having fun without thinking about serious things. Therefore, we plan to gather people and involve them in the cause.

- Are Native Americans joining?

“It’s hard with them, they don’t always understand what’s going on, why they should help us.” They may answer that, for example, they also have troops in Syria... In a word, it is difficult to achieve something, but sometimes it works. They hand over money and clothes.

In the USA I drive a Honda Accord with a large Ukrainian flag. Sometimes people themselves come up and offer to help. During the show, artists can go into the hall to communicate with the audience, and guests often ask me about the situation with us. They can transfer some pretty penny.

- Is the presence of the Russian diaspora felt? Do quarrels happen?

- There are often terrible pub fights in Los Angeles. Hell-hell. We constantly have to separate people.

In the Russian quarter of New York, you get the impression that you are in the Soviet Union. There is Russian culture in all its glory - signs in Russian and in their style, glorifying Putin in unison. On the one hand, I love America for its democracy - you can do almost everything freely. But in some places you start to get lost: are you in the USA or in Russia?!

The director of one of my shows was Russian. At first glance, he is an adequate person. He asks once: “Nadya, why are you training in a yellow-blue bracelet? This is not tolerant towards other artists.” He adds that the flag should also be removed from the car. I explain that this is my car and my life, I don’t impose myself on anyone, and I don’t do anything bad.

Moreover, on the cars of Native Americans you can see signatures like “Obama is a goat” or “Obama, stop smoking weed.” Opinions about the president are expressed freely there. One girl told me that at their school there are even lessons on criticizing the president, where they tell everyone why a bad president is bad. This is not like in Russia, where my friend was detained for a single picket.

- What picket exactly?

- The guy came out with a poster “Putin, stop the war, free Savchenko”... And now we don’t know where he is. In general, I am very grateful to my anti-Putin Russian acquaintances. For them, trips to the police station have become everyday life. We went on strike, posted photos on Facebook - everyone was happy and smiling. About 20 minutes pass, I read: “Damn, we’ve all been raked.” Blurry photos, someone being dragged somewhere. Even later - they are riding in a bobbik. They can write from the pre-trial detention center: “They’ll take the phone now, we’ll talk tomorrow.” I read it and don’t believe it’s my phone.

IN MOSCOW I WAS TEASED WITH "LPR" T-SHIRTS

- Last year you performed in Russia for four months...

- Yes, I’m one of those who don’t shy away from taking money from hucksters and spending it on their guys. Although I had a hard time working in St. Petersburg. We signed the agreement six months before the Maidan, and when they reminded me that the theater was opening and it was time to go, I grabbed my head: “Well, how can you perform there?” However, I traveled around the ATO and realized that I needed money for volunteering. Besides, why should people who are not guilty of anything suffer because of Putin’s policies? For example, the show director was absolutely adequate.

- What kind of establishment did you work in?

- Previously, it was a state theater. One of the Gazprom employees bought it and started pouring money into it. This is where a lot of money is laundered, which is probably why it took two years. They have created a nice, renovated establishment - they put on performances for children and dance shows.

For example, a flight arrives from Dubai, we perform in front of the guests and then leave. On average there were 20 corporate events per month.

- Apparently, you were under a lot of pressure because of your position?

- Everything was fine, except for some things. One day I come to training, and there are guys sitting there in LPR T-shirts. They put it on specially, because they know perfectly well who I am. Technicians, adults, 40 years old.

I go up to the head of the show and say: “Are you aware that the “LPR” and “DPR” are terrorist organizations? He replies: “Yes, so what?” I suggest: “Let’s do this, I’ll come to training with the inscription “Putin is a murderer.” He shakes his head: “You can’t do that, it’s a personal insult.” And putting on a T-shirt with the inscription “LPR,” in his opinion, is a trifle, and words are not costs.

Many guys asked me what was really going on. They sincerely did not understand why Ukraine became “bad” and people began to “eat children.” But, of course, there were also plenty of zombies.

It hurt that no one understood why I came to the show crying. Then there was the story with Volnovakha. They ask me what happened. I am silent, then I say: “I’m worried about the war.” And they told me: “Well, there’s no point in shooting at each other.” I’m not one of those people who will swear when I understand that a person can no longer be convinced.

WE PERFORMED IN FRONT OF AN EMPTY HALL. PUTIN WAS HIDDEN UPSTAIRS

- The media spent a long time talking about your performance in the theater in front of Putin...

- Yes, this story was insanely distorted. It's already creeping me out...

- So how did it really happen? Did you speak before the Russian president?

“That day we were supposed to perform at nine, but the show was postponed to five o’clock. And then they say: guys, if anyone needs to go outside, go out now, because then everything will be closed. A friend had just arrived to pick me up. He says the cops cordoned off everything within a five-kilometer radius. Only my car with Ukrainian license plates and a small flag on the window remained in the parking lot...

We are warming up to go on stage, there are 10 of us, I have an important role. And then they tell me: Putin has come. It hits me that I cannot speak out in front of the aggressor. But I understand that there is no replacement for me, and if I don’t come out, heads may roll. I agreed with the theater director that I would not show my usual act, I would simply not appear in the background. After the performance I cried for a long time. People didn’t understand my condition, they said: “Nadya, what are you doing, you danced in front of Putin himself.” Of course, they were all happy - the hell came.

Then I calmed down and realized that I couldn’t let people down. Because of the wrong show, there can be terrible problems - remember at least the Olympics in Sochi, when one ring did not light up... Let them say that I am a traitor because I jumped on stage for a minute, but it seems to me that I did the right thing.

- Did you see Putin in the hall?

- The hall was empty, the audience was taken to a room on the second floor behind armored glass. The dude was not visible, only some kind of silhouette. He sat with a retinue of guards.

- How did your story with the St. Petersburg theater end?

- After this story, I returned to Ukraine. And so they call me. They say: “Thank you, but we will not cooperate with you further.” I answer, okay, just give me my details. And to me: “We’re taking the props.” But these are personal items that cost thousands of dollars...

Then one of the theater workers at night agreed to give the things to my friend.

RUSSIAN GYMNAST BROUGHT 5 THOUSAND. UAH FOR VOLUNTEERING

- You said that you received many threats from the Russians...

- Yes, because of them I even had to block my phone. On the one hand, this makes me smile - people have nothing better to do than write SMS to some Nadya Vasina, a gymnast from Ukraine. I’m not a politician, I don’t influence the situation. But my words that I would strangle Putin with my hands and not only hurt them. They insulted their god... Sometimes they wrote threats with the exact coordinates of the places where I plan to be. Although I don’t write about my plans on Facebook...

— Have you received any angry messages from Ukrainians?

- No, I don’t remember that.

- Still, there is a special attitude towards people who perform in Russia...

- I have my own thought, which I try to express correctly. I am actively involved in dancing, volunteering... Of course, there are people who don’t like something.

- Then did you go to Russia?

“After this situation, I didn’t want to go back there.” One girl from the Russian gymnastics team really asked me to come and give a master class for her birthday. I explained everything to her honestly. And so she came to me in Kyiv. A very sincere girl: she brought souvenirs and left 5 thousand UAH for volunteering. We went with her and her friend to the Maidan - the girls were crying. Now they are writing to me again: if you don’t want to go to Moscow, let’s train, for example, in Cyprus...

DERUGGY PEOPLE WERE DEPRESSIONED AND HUMILIATED

- Do you have many students? Are you thinking about a coaching career?

- No, it's definitely not mine. Although I teach several people in Ukraine and prepared girls for competitions as part of the American team. Gymnasts from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus are valued in the West.

- Probably there is a different teaching method there?

- Everything is very democratic there. The child may ask for a break, sit on the steps and munch on a hamburger. Everything is much tougher here...

- Perhaps that’s why ours are valued?

- I don’t agree with this. For example, now, I have two broken fingers, I can barely walk, but this is my own decision. And when you are little, you don’t understand what’s what, you are simply forced to do something. Whatever happens, drink Citramon and move on. And then the body starts to hurt due to the weather. You realize that all this is because of those injuries, because of the evil aunt-trainer who bullied you...

- Is everything really that tough?

- At the age of 11, I joined the national team with the Deryugins. Here people were oppressed, humiliated and intimidated. They constantly said: “You are stupid, you are worthless. But you will listen to me, and everything will change.” You, a little child, are standing, and an adult aunt is beating you on the butt with a gymnastic stick. Then a bruise for two weeks. Before the performance, I’m all crazy - what if you make a mistake, then this will happen... I was also afraid of people, we weren’t allowed to communicate with the guys. I understand that you need to be serious and go towards your goal - but not to such insanity.

I remember once they kicked me out of the hall, taking away my money and mobile phone. I had to walk in slippers from Maidan to Dorogozhichiy... Mom was very surprised then.

And when I left the sport, I had a habit of hiding food when someone came into the room. What if this someone takes everything, yells, and then cracks normally.

Yes, I have a lot of medals, including presidential ones. But they could have been conquered differently... It seems to me that this is one of the reasons why Ukraine cannot succeed. Everyone’s goal is to insult and snitch. And success is when you move towards a goal together.

IT TAKES HALF A YEAR TO PREPARE ONE ISSUE

- What will you perform in Vegas?

- I’m presenting a new issue “Nadia Vasina’s Showroom”. We already have five numbers for the big stage - one of these can be prepared for six months. I have already performed in the USA, France and Germany. I am planning to go to Brazil in the near future.

There is work in Ukraine, but it has become much smaller.

Of course, we would like to develop the culture of cabaret, burlesque, and shows. In Paris, this culture is already a hundred years old, and we have a lot of beautiful girls and directors - and nothing. Our show business is only about singers and presenters. The most one can hope for is the Kobzov Circus and the Ukrainian circus, which is slowly fading.

- It’s probably not easy to work in this genre...

- Yes. To make a performance for five minutes, you need to spend several thousand dollars. On the director, props, costumes, technical things, music... I try to be active in several areas. I take part in presentations of Bentley, Bugatti, Vertu. At presentations, big brands want not just a jacket, but someone well-promoted, who can speak and be silent. I am a kind of chip for them.

- Is your Ukrainian origin used as a feature?

- No, they are apolitical, and besides, there are many of us there. Although people sometimes take pictures with a car with a flag in the background.

IN THE EAST, CHILDREN WHO RUNNED BEHIND AN ARMORED TRANSPORT VEHICLE WAS STILLED

- When was the last time you were in the ATO?

- In fact, I spent the whole summer there. In the winter I went to Chongar, to the 95th brigade - basically I help these guys, where they are, I am there. Others are not always ready to take responsibility for a civilian guest. The 95th was supposed to relocate several months ago, but this is not happening, although some of the guys were sent to Avdeevka.

- It seems you have already been to Avdeevka...

- Yes, I came there thanks to a military man. We drove under the roar and explosions. We arrive, the guys just came from their positions, look at me, smile: “Cool, let’s do some exercises.” They are shooting all around, and we take pictures with them and eat lard.

I remember how we were leaving Popasnaya, and I noticed that 500 meters from us something was burning in a field. It turns out that a separatist tank was knocked out. Field, sunny weather, birds singing... You refuse to perceive that there is war all around and the enemy is very close.

I was struck by the picture: an armored personnel carrier was driving, and children were running behind it with outstretched arms - waiting for dry rations to be thrown to them. Bullets whistle overhead. The children seem to be cheerful - jumping and waving their arms...

- When are you going to see the guys next time?

- I plan to immediately after returning from the USA. To be honest, sometimes I blame myself for not being able to travel more often. But I understand: you need to set aside time for your projects, including to earn money for volunteering.