On October 29, 2026, a big live concert of the band “Nogu Svelo!” will take place at the Gagarin club in Tel Aviv. Its leader, Max Pokrovsky, recently returned from Ukraine, where he visited Kyiv, Kharkiv, Izyum, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk, saw the consequences of Russian shelling, and worked on a documentary about the war.
Author: Lev Varshavsky
Organizers Mi.Li.Productions confirmed the new performance date — Thursday, October 29, 2026. The concert had been repeatedly postponed due to the unstable security situation in Israel. All purchased tickets remain valid, no exchange is required.
Buy tickets on showman here.
In the evening, the audience will enjoy familiar songs, new compositions, and a live performance by the band, which over nearly four decades has evolved from absurdist rock and roll to sharp anti-war statements.
From Kyiv to Kramatorsk: why Pokrovsky went to Ukraine
In August 2026, Max Pokrovsky visited Ukraine for the first time since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. He went there not with a concert tour, but with a film crew — to work on the documentary I’m Here to Witness, the title of which can be translated as “I am here to witness.”
The route included Kyiv, Kharkiv, Izyum in the Kharkiv region, as well as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. These are cities that have experienced occupation, massive shelling, or are in close proximity to hostilities.
In Izyum, the musicians visited a mass burial site discovered after the city was liberated by Ukrainian forces in September 2022. In other cities, they talked with local residents, recorded their stories, and filmed the consequences of Russian aggression.
In Kyiv, Pokrovsky met with Russian oppositionist Mark Feygin, visited St. Michael’s Square, where destroyed Russian military equipment is displayed, and experienced another Russian air attack.
Later, the musician said that the trip helped him hear people directly on the spot, without intermediaries. According to him, the film crew did not have a strict schedule of interviews in advance — many conversations arose right on the streets.
The travel materials are expected to be included not only in the documentary but also in a video clip for the English version of the song “Our Young Funny Voices.” In this way, Pokrovsky hopes to reach those viewers who do not understand the Russian language.
“The Country of Sunny Flowers” and congratulations to Ukrainians
On August 24, on Ukraine’s Independence Day, Pokrovsky published an address recorded against the backdrop of destruction in the Lukyanivka district of Kyiv. He congratulated Ukrainians, used lines from the Ukrainian anthem, and appealed to Russians to abandon attempts to conquer the neighboring country.
During the trip, the musician came up with his own figurative name for Ukraine — “The Country of Sunny Flowers.” It reflected the impression the country made on him, continuing to live and resist despite the destruction.
For fans of “Nogu Svelo!” this is a continuation of the position the band has publicly expressed since the first weeks of the full-scale invasion.
Anti-war songs, Ukraine, and the complex history with Crimea
The repertoire of “Nogu Svelo!” includes compositions “We Don’t Need War!”, “Letter Zy”, “Generation Z”, and “Ukraine.” The musicians openly opposed Russian aggression, and Pokrovsky became one of the prominent Russian-speaking rock performers who condemned the war.
The band also participated in charitable initiatives. In particular, in 2022, their activities to raise aid for Ukraine allowed the purchase of two ambulances.
However, Pokrovsky’s August visit was not without criticism. In Ukraine, he was reminded of performances in occupied Crimea in 2015–2016. The musician admitted that he regrets these concerts, explaining his previous decisions by personal circumstances and insufficient attention to the political events of that time.
The conversation was not easy. The Ukrainian audience evaluated not only the artist’s current anti-war statements but also his actions after the Russian occupation of the peninsula in 2014.
Nevertheless, Pokrovsky continued his journey, filming, and meeting with Ukrainians. Now the testimonies collected during this trip will become part of his new creative project.
For readers of NAnovosti, following Israeli-Ukrainian relations, this story shows how relations between the Russian-speaking music scene and Ukrainian society have changed since February 2022. NAnovosti — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency considers such events not only through music but also through the human stories behind it.
Why this concert is of interest to Israel
Pokrovsky’s connection with Israel is not limited to tours.
On November 5, 2023, shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the start of the war, Pokrovsky and his colleagues participated in the charitable Israel Support Marathon — an initiative aimed at supporting Israel.
Now the band returns to the Israeli stage after its own difficult history of concert postponements. Here it will be listened to by people from different countries — Israelis, immigrants from Ukraine and other states, fans who grew up on the songs “Haru Mamburu” and “Our Young Funny Voices.”
Will the concert feature the song “Ukraine” or other anti-war compositions? Organizers promise famous hits and new songs, but the final list of works has not yet been announced.
Where and when will the “Nogu Svelo!” concert take place in Israel
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026.
Venue: Gagarin Club, Kibbutz Galuyot Street, 13, Tel Aviv.
Evening program:
- 18:45 — doors open.
- 19:20 — performance by Shelter 104, the invited band opening the concert.
- 20:00 — “Nogu Svelo!” takes the stage.
Tickets: 300 shekels on the official sales page, additional fees may apply.
Organizer: Mi.Li.Productions.
Buy tickets on showman here.
Some advertisements indicate an 18+ restriction, but the official ticket page allows minors to attend accompanied by parents, guardians, or authorized adults. Before purchasing family tickets, it is worth clarifying the current conditions with the organizer.
If the ticket was purchased for the previous date, it remains valid for October 29.
Two weeks before the performance, on October 14, the new date was confirmed by the venue and ticketing system. But given previous postponements, it is useful for viewers to check messages from organizers before traveling to the club.
For Pokrovsky, the upcoming evening will be a return to Israeli listeners after an eventful summer. And for the audience, it is an opportunity to hear both old songs and the current band, whose music has long gone beyond the usual entertaining rock concert.
Buy tickets on showman here.