MOSCOW -- Famed Russian singer Alla Pugacheva has spoken out against her country's war in Ukraine, saying it has made it a "pariah" nation and that the deaths in the conflict "weigh heavily" on Russian citizens.
Pugacheva made the remarks in an Instagram post on September 18 in which she also said she wanted to be placed on Russia's "foreign agent" list two days after her TV presenter/comedian husband was designated as such by Moscow.
The 73-year-old Pugacheva, who has been an iconic singer since the 1970s, remains popular throughout the former Soviet Union.
She joins a small but growing number of Russian citizens who have spoken out against Russia's unprovoked February 24 invasion of Ukraine, a conflict in which Russia has suffered heavy losses and has so far failed to accomplish most of its stated goals.
Pugacheva's husband, Maksim Galkin -- who also has spoken out against the war -- on September 16 was added to the Russian Justice Ministry's list of persons acting as "foreign agents" for allegedly conducting political activities on behalf of Kyiv and receiving funds from Ukraine.
Maksim Galkin
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Moscow quickly adopted a law criminalizing the dissemination of "false" information that "discredits the armed forces." The law has been central to a massive crackdown against dissent over the war in Russia.
Pugacheva wrote on her Instagram account, which has 3.5 million followers, that she also wants to be added to the foreign agent list in support of her husband.
"I am asking you to please include me in the group of foreign agents of my beloved country...because I stand in solidarity with my husband, who is an honest and ethical person, a true, and incorruptible Russian patriot, who only wishes for prosperity, peace, and freedom of expression in his motherland.”
Pugacheva said Galkin wishes for "the end of the deaths of our boys for illusory goals that make our country a pariah and weigh heavily on the lives of its citizens."
In response to the foreign agent allegations, Galkin wrote on Instagram: "I don't do political activities.... I do humor and political satire."
He said he received money from Ukraine about a decade ago when he performed at a concert there.
Galkin and Pugacheva left Russia shortly after the start of the war, but Pugacheva reportedly returned in August. Galkin's location is not clear.