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Vera Brezhneva

In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Viktorivna and the family name is Halushka.
Vera Brezhneva
Вера Брежнева
Brezhneva in 2017
Born
Vira Viktorivna Halushka (Віра Вікторівна Галушка)

(1982-02-03) 3 February 1982
Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
CitizenshipUkraine
Alma materDnipro Institute of Infrastructure and Transport
Occupations
  • Singer
  • television presenter
  • actress
Years active2003-present
Spouses
  • Mykhailo Kiperman
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2006; div. 2012)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2015; div. 2023)​
Children2
Musical career
GenresPop
InstrumentVocals
Labels
  • Velvet
  • Moon
  • Monolit
  • Misteriya Zvuka
  • Pervoye Muzykalnoye
Formerly ofNu Virgos
Websitebrezhneva.com

Vira Viktorivna Halushka (Ukrainian: Віра Вікторівна Галушка; Russian: Вера Викторовна Галушка; born 3 February 1982), known mononymously as Vira (stylised in Latin all caps) and previously by the stage name Vera Brezhneva (Вера Брежнева),[1] is a Ukrainian singer, television presenter, and actress.[2]

During her career, she achieved international success in Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries,[3][4] and is a winner of ZD Awards.[5] In 2016, she received the International Music Prize "Big Apple Music Awards" in the category "Best Eastern European Artist" and special award for charitable activities "Person" in New York City.[6] She has performed several times at the Laima Rendezvous music festival in the Latvian city of Jurmala.[7][8] Brezhneva is also a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.[9]

Early life

Vira Viktorivna Halushka was born on 3 February 1982 in Dniprodzerzhynsk, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union.[2] Her father, Viktor, worked in a chemical factory. Her mother, Tamara, a medical school graduate, worked in the same factory as him.[10][11] She has three sisters, one older sister named Halyna and younger twins named Anastasia and Viktoria.[12] She bought a flat for her parents in Boryspil, a town close to Kyiv. She earned a degree by correspondence from the faculty of economics of the Dnipropetrovsk Institute of Railway Engineering.[2]

Career

2002–2007: Nu Virgos (VIA Gra)

From left to right: Brezhneva, Anna Sedokova, and Nadia Meiher, the "golden lineup" of Nu Virgos, in 2003

In 2002, Halushka was invited to a casting organised to find a girl to replace Alena Vinnitskaya in the group Nu Virgos, in which she succeeded. She was given the stage name Vera Brezhneva by the group's producer Dmytro Kostyuk in reference to Leonid Brezhnev because she was born in the same city as him.[12] In January 2003, Nu Virgos started performing in the new lineup of Nadia Meiher, Anna Sedokova, and Brezhneva. Due to its massive popularity, it gained the name of "the golden lineup".[13]

In July 2007, Brezhneva decided to take a break from the band. In December 2007, an official announcement was made stating that she was leaving Nu Virgos.[14] She was then replaced in the group by Tatiana Kotova.

2008–2022: solo career in Russia

Brezhneva was the presenter of the Russian version of the Power of 10 game show, Magia desyati (Магия десяти; Magic of 10), which ran on Channel One Russia for two seasons from 7 January to 31 August 2008.[15] The same year, she participated in the second season of the Russian ice show contest Ice Age.[16] She released her debut solo single "Ya ne igrayu" (Я не играю; I Don't Play) on 19 May 2008 and followed it up with "Nirvana" (Нирвана) on 27 October.[17] She played Katya in the 2009 film Love in the Big City and performed a song of the same name for its soundtrack, "Lyubov v bolshom gorode" (Любовь в большом городе);[18] it was released as a single on 5 February 2009.[17] She reprised the role in its 2010 sequel and appeared alongside two other actresses from the film in the music video for its main song, "Leto vsegda!" (Лето всегда!; Summer Always!) by the group Diskoteka Avariya, released on 14 February 2010.[19] She released three further singles that year: "Lyubov spasyot mir" (Любовь спасёт мир; Love Will Save the World) on 13 April,[17] "Pronto" (Пронто) with Potap on 16 September,[17] and "Lepestkami slyoz" (Лепестками слёз; By the Petals of Tears) with Dan Balan on 1 November.[20] All previously released singles, with the exception of "Leto vsegda!", were included on her debut solo album Lyubov spasyot mir.[21] A premiere event for the album was held on 24 November 2010 at Blanc Café in Moscow.[22]

Brezhneva appeared as herself in the 2010 film Yolki (Ёлки) and its 2011 sequel.[23] On 18 May 2011, she released the single "Realnaya zhizn'" (Реальная жизнь; Real Life).[24] "Sexy Bambina" was released as the last single from Lyubov spasyot mir on 30 November 2011.[17] She released three singles in 2012: "Bessonnitsa" (Бессонница; Insomnia) on 6 June,[17][25] "Ishchu tebya" (Ищу тебя; I Am Looking for You) from the soundtrack to 8 First Dates on 18 June,[17][26] and the DJ Smash collaboration "Lyubov' na rasstonyanii" (Любовь на расстоянии; Love from a Distance) on 21 September.[17] In late November, she starred in Aleksandr Voytinskiy's film Jungle (Джунгли),[23] which was panned by critics.[27][28] 2013 saw the release of two singles, "Khoroshii den'" (Хороший день; Good Day) and "Skazhi" (Скажи; Say) with Druha Rika.[17] The former song won her a Golden Gramophone Award.[29] She starred in the 2014 sequel to Love in the Big City, the final part of the trilogy.[30] Her second studio album Ververa was released on 28 April 2015 and contains most of the songs released since "Realnaya zhizn'".[31] In 2016, she starred in 8 Best Dates.[32]

2022–present: Break from the Russian industry

After the Russo-Ukrainian War broke out in 2014, Brezhneva continued her career in Russia.[33][34] By 2022, however, owing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she expressed her support for Ukraine and broke away from her Russian career.[33] While residing in the Latvian city of Riga, Brezhneva has returned to Ukraine a number of times since the invasion began.[35] She shifted her career towards releasing music in the Ukrainian language and changed her stage name to Vira (in Latin letters).[1] Her first release under that name was the single "Vyshyvanka" (Вишиванка), a collaboration with Ukrainian singer Tayanna, on 19 October 2022.[36] Her first Ukrainian-language extended play Dyakuyu (Дякую; Thank You) was released on 6 October 2023.[37] It was preceded by two singles, "Taki my lyudy" (Такi ми люди; Such People We Are) and the title track.[37][38]

Personal life

Brehneva has a daughter born in 2001 from her relationship with Vitaliy Voychenko, deputy mayor of Yalta from 2010 to 2013.[39][40] She was married to Ukrainian businessman Mykhailo Kiperman from 2006 to 2012,[41] and they have a daughter born in 2009.[39] She married songwriter and producer Konstantin Meladze, with whom she frequently worked, in 2015.[42] They separated in 2022 and divorced in 2023, allegedly over her disapproval of his continued work in the Russian real estate and music markets after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[42][43] As of November 2024, she is in a relationship.[44]

Discography

Singles

Year Single English translation Chart Positions
Ukraine Russia
2008 "Я не играю" I don't play — 6
"Нирвана" Nirvana — 80
2009 "Любовь в большом городе" Love in the big city — 19
2010 "Любовь спасёт мир" Love will save the world 1 1
"Пронто" (with Potap) Pronto — 31
"Лепестками слёз" (with Dan Balan) By the petals of tears 1 1
2011 "Реальная жизнь" Real life 1 1
2012 "Sexy Bambina" 1 —
"Бессонница" Insomnia 6 20
"Ищу тебя" I am looking for you 7 —
"Любовь на расстоянии" (featuring DJ Smash) Love from a distance 48 14
2013 "Хороший день" Nice day 2 11
"Дом" Home — —
2014 "Доброе утро" Good morning 1 12
"Luna" (featuring Aleksandr Revva) Moon 142 —
"Девочка моя" My girl — —
2015 "Мамочка" Mommy 15 —
"Этажи" (with T-killah) Floors — —
2016 "Номер 1" Number 1 16 —
"Feel" Feel 854 —
2017 "Близкие люди" Close people — —

Albums

Studio albums

  • Lyubov spasyot mir (2010)
  • VERVERA (2015)

EPs

  • V. (2020)
  • Dyakuyu (2023)

Awards

Brezhneva with her Video of the Year trophy at the 2010 OE Video Music Awards

Brezhneva is the winner of 10 Golden Gramophone Awards.[29][45] She won Artist of the Year at the 2011 Muz-TV Music Awards.[24]

Brezhneva received the title "Woman of the Year" from Glamour Russia in 2010.[46] In 2007, 2012, 2015, and 2016 she was named the sexiest woman in Russia by the men's magazine Maxim.[47][48]

References

  1. ^ a b Habriadze, Ksenia (29 September 2023). "Вже не Брежнєва: співачка VERA випустила барвистий кліп, знятий під Києвом" [Not Brezhneva anymore: singer VIRA released a colourful music video filmed near Kyiv]. Television News Service (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "brezhneva.com Биография". Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Вера Брежнева - Женщина года". TOPClub (in Russian). 21 November 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  4. ^ "В Риге выступит украинская певица Вера Брежнева". Grani.LV (in Russian). 23 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  5. ^ ""Афиша": вручение премии "Звуковая дорожка"". m24.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  6. ^ "состоялась музыкальная премия Big Apple Music Awards". mboxtv.ru. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  7. ^ Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala (19 December 2018). Вера Брежнева - Реальная жизнь |Laima Rendez Vous'2018 22.jul. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala (25 January 2024). VERA BREZHNEVA - ДОБРОЕ УТРО | LAIMA RENDEZVOUS JŪRMALA 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Вера Брежнева призвала проверится на СПИД". podrobnosti. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  10. ^ Вера Брежнева / Vera Brezhneva (биография и фотоподборка) | Блог X3M-Slider(а)
  11. ^ Виталий Войченко: Пресс-Портрет. Archived 2012-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ a b "Когда продюсер «виа гры» дмитрий костюк узнал, что принятая в группу вера галушка из днепродзержинска, родины леонида ильича, сказал: «будешь брежневой! »" [When VIA Gra's producer Dmytro Kostyuk found out that Vera Halushka from Dniprodzerzhynsk, the birthplace of Leonid Ilyich, was accepted into the group, he said: "You will be Brezhneva!"]. Fakty ta Komentari (in Russian). 2 October 2004. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  13. ^ "'VIA Gra' to reunion all former soloists at same stage by jubilee concert tour". Tophit. 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Вера Брежнева навсегда покидает "Виа Гру"". Randevucity.net. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Первый канал. Зарубежное и тематическое вещание / Эфир / Магия десяти" (in Russian). 1tvrus.com. 14 January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  16. ^ "Из Ледникового периода выбыла Вера Брежнева!" [Vera Brezhneva dropped out of Ice Age!]. Love Radio (in Russian). 15 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Вера Брежнева" [Vera Brezhneva] (in Russian). Tophit. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  18. ^ "Вера Брежнева сняла «Любовь в большом городе»" [Vera Brezhneva shot "Love in the Big City"]. NewsMuz (in Russian). 22 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  19. ^ "«Дискотека Авария» устроила лето зимой" [Diskoteka Avariya arranged summer in winter]. NewsMuz (in Russian). 4 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  20. ^ "Дан Балан и Вера Брежнева спелись" [Dan Balan and Vera Brezhneva sang]. Cosmopolitan Russia (in Russian). 2 November 2010. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  21. ^ Mazhaev, Alexei (2 December 2010). "Вера Брежнева — "Любовь спасет мир" ***" [Vera Brezhneva - Love Will Save the World (three stars)]. InterMedia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  22. ^ "Вера Брежнева представила дебютный альбом" [Vera Brezhneva presented her debut album]. OK! (in Russian). Russia. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  23. ^ a b "Остров для двоих" [An island for two]. StarHit (in Russian). 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  24. ^ a b "ВЕРА БРЕЖНЕВА ПРЕЗЕНТОВАЛА НОВЫЙ КЛИП НА ПЕСНЮ "РЕАЛЬНАЯ ЖИЗНЬ"" [Vera Brezhneva presented a new video for the song "Real Life"]. paparazzi.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Вера Брежнева представила новую песню «Бессонница»" [Vera Brezhneva presented her new song "Insomnia"]. Best in UA (in Russian). 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  26. ^ Andreev, Konstantin (20 February 2012). "Вера Брежнева представила ремейк легендарной песни" [Vera Brezhneva presented a remake of a legendary song]. Apelzin (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  27. ^ Petrov, Oleg (30 November 2012). "Джунгли" [Jungle]. UralWeb (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  28. ^ Chemodanov, Miroslav (30 November 2012). "Фильмы недели: «Бригада. Наследник», «Влюблённые», «Джунгли»" [Films of the week: Brigade. Heir, Lovers, Jungle]. The Village (in Russian). Archived from the original on 20 March 2015.
  29. ^ a b "Вера Брежнева получила «Золотой граммофон»" [Vera Brezhneva received a Golden Gramophone Award]. RBC-Ukraine (in Russian). 2 December 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  30. ^ Sirotina, Anna (21 February 2013). "Вера Брежнева: «Если страсть прошла, не стоит хвататься за воздух!»" [Vera Brezhneva: "If the passion is gone, you should not grasp for air!"]. Grazia (in Russian). Russia. Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  31. ^ Mazhaev, Alexei (2 December 2010). "Вера Брежнева - «Ververa» ***" [Vera Brezhneva - Ververa (three stars)]. InterMedia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  32. ^ Melnikov, Artyom (27 February 2016). "«8 лучших свиданий»: «Зелёный слоник» наносит ответный удар ***" [8 Best Dates: the "Green Elephant" strikes back (three stars)]. InterMedia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  33. ^ a b Pashkevich, Ivanna (5 December 2023). "У Віри Брежнєвої відібрали бізнес у Росії: що відомо" [Vera Brezhneva's business in Russia was taken away: what is known]. RBC-Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  34. ^ Vorobey, Olena (24 September 2023). ""Злочин не має терміну": Скрипка назвав провину Лободи та Брежнєвої" ["The crime has no term": Skrypka called the guilt of Loboda and Brezhneva]. UNIAN (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Вайкуле розповіла, де зараз живе Брежнєва". Gordonua.com (in Ukrainian). 10 June 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  36. ^ Melnik, Maria (19 October 2022). "У майках та джинсах: Брежнєва під новим ім'ям заспівала з Tayanna про вишиванку" [In T-shirts and jeans: Brezhneva under a new name sang with Tayanna about vyshyvanka]. Tablo ID (in Ukrainian). Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  37. ^ a b Vlasenko, Evgeniya (6 October 2023). "Віра Брежнєва випустила україномовний альбом та розповіла про розлучення" [Vera Brezhneva released a Ukrainian-language album and spoke about her divorce]. Insider (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  38. ^ "Брежнєва у яскравих міні потанцювала на Київському морі в кліпі про вдячність. ВІДЕО". Tablo ID (in Ukrainian). Ukrainska Pravda. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  39. ^ a b Bulycheva, Kira (3 February 2017). "Секрет успеха Веры Брежневой: Взять фамилию генсека и стать секс-символом" [The secret to Vera Brezhneva's success: Take the Secretary General's surname and become a sex symbol]. Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  40. ^ "Бывшего мужа Веры Брежневой уволили из мэрии Ялты" [Vera Brezhneva's ex-husband was fired from Yalta City Hall]. ATR (in Russian). 23 October 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  41. ^ "Вера Брежнева рассталась с мужем" [Vera Brezhneva broke up with her husband]. Cosmopolitan Russia (in Russian). 11 October 2012. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  42. ^ a b Yanina, Karina (22 November 2024). "Брежнєва зі сльозами розповіла, як пережила розлучення з Меладзе: "Я нікому не потрібна"" [Brezhneva tearfully told how she survived the divorce from Meladze: "Nobody needs me"]. UNIAN (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  43. ^ Pashkevich, Ivanna (6 October 2023). "Віра Брежнєва офіційно підтвердила, що розлучилася з Меладзе" [Vera Brezhneva officially confirmed that she has divorced Meladze]. RBC-Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  44. ^ Yanina, Karina (22 November 2024). "Після чуток про роман з багатієм: 42-річна Віра Брежнєва зізналася, що закохана" [After rumours of an affair with a rich man: 42-year-old Vera Brezhneva admitted that she is in love]. UNIAN (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  45. ^ Volkov, Andrey (24 November 2019). "Український загін відбив партію статуеток у росіян: чим вразили Лобода, Лорак і Барських на "Золотому грамофоні 2019"" [The Ukrainian detachment recaptured a batch of statuettes from the Russians: what impressed Loboda, Lorak and Barskikh at the "Golden Gramophone 2019"]. Znaj (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  46. ^ "Вера Брежнева — главная «Женщина года Glamour»-2010". Tatler. 19 November 2010.
  47. ^ Shumov, Vasily (1 October 2013). "The evolution of Russian female pop singers". Russia & India Report. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  48. ^ "Russia's sexiest woman announced". NEWS.am STYLE. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
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