Oleg Vinnik Named the Condition for His Return to Ukraine

Oleg Vinnik explained why he is not ready to return to Ukraine during a full-scale war. The singer said he would like to live in his homeland but is afraid of losing the opportunity to return to Germany. According to him, he is ready to change his decision once the war ends.

 

Oleg Vinnik, who has been living in Germany since the start of the full-scale invasion, has once again spoken about his possible return to Ukraine. The singer discussed this in an interview with blogger Natalia Velesevich.

The artist noted that he would like to live in a peaceful Ukraine. At the same time, he is not ready to return right now because he fears that he will not be able to leave for Germany again afterward. “I would like to live in my peaceful, happy country. But we don’t have that. It hurts,” Vinnik said.

According to the singer, he wouldn’t even travel to Ukraine to visit his parents’ graves. The reason is his current status in Germany and fears about being able to return. “And even if I were to go now to visit my parents at the cemetery, I wouldn’t do it, because I live here. I’m registered at the Ukrainian embassy; my permanent residence is here. And what if you came back to your homeland now and couldn’t legally leave? How would that work?” the artist explained.

Vynnyk named a condition for his return

The singer says his position may change once the war ends. At the same time, he emphasized that he’s not just talking about his own life. Vinnik stated that, above all, he wants to see a peaceful and safe Ukraine. Only then, he said, would he be ready to seriously consider returning. “First of all, there has to be peace. And I’m not just talking about myself here—I want to see happy people in my country,” Vinnik said.

The artist also described his current life in Germany as a safe environment. He noted that there, he can go out on the street at night without worry and doesn’t have to fear for his family. “I’m a free man; I can go out in the middle of the night, I don’t worry about my family—we live in safety. We live in a civilized, law-abiding paradise,” the singer stated.

At the same time, Vinnik acknowledged that life in Germany isn’t entirely carefree for him. According to him, he still has to work hard there. However, he appreciates the opportunity to decide for himself where to live and how to shape his life.

What Vinnik Said About Life in Germany

Separately, the artist explained his status in Germany. He said he has lived there for over two decades and has had resident status in the country since 2005. Vinnik had previously explained that at the time he left Ukraine, he had the right to cross the border as a resident of Germany. In July 2026, he said that he had lived in Germany for about 25 years and considers himself a Ukrainian who is also a resident of another country.

In a recent interview, the singer also stated that he has not held a Ukrainian internal passport since the early 2000s. He disclosed this information himself, so it constitutes his personal statement.

Thus, Vynnyk currently has no plans to return to Ukraine during the war. According to him, the main condition for changing his decision would be an end to the war and the restoration of security for Ukrainians.