A conflict over money and the rights to the band has erupted in Schmalgauzen
Members of the theater and music group Schmalgauzen have publicly announced a serious conflict with producer Valentin Bilokon and artistic director Andriy Shyrko. The musicians claim that they have lost access to part of the group’s funds, social media accounts, and streaming platforms, and that the Schmalgauzen trademark was allegedly registered in the name of a third party. The artists are now preparing to file a complaint with law enforcement, as well as civil and administrative lawsuits.
Schmalgauzen frontmen Vladislav Mikhalchuk and Mikhail Matyukhin spoke about the conflict in a video they posted on the band’s new Instagram page. According to the musicians, after terminating their working relationship with part of the team, they encountered problems accessing the project’s resources.
Specifically, this includes social media accounts, online accounts, streaming platforms, and the band’s financial tools. The musicians also reported problems receiving funds that, according to them, were earned by the band.
“We have encountered a barrage of manipulative responses and correspondence, but they have not led to any action. Therefore, we are taking legal action and filing a complaint with the relevant authorities, as well as initiating judicial and administrative proceedings to challenge the trademark registrations and restore the band’s access to social media,” — stated Vladislav Mikhalchuk and Mikhail Matyukhin.
What the musicians say about money and access
Separately, the band members accuse producer Valentin Bilokon of unlawfully gaining access to the members’ email accounts and associated online accounts. According to the frontmen, they intend to refer these circumstances to law enforcement agencies for investigation. The musicians themselves describe the situation as an attempt to deprive the band of control over its own resources.
The Village also reports that Schmalgauzen members have claimed to have lost access to the band’s Instagram page, YouTube and Telegram accounts, streaming services, and financial records. However, the final legal assessment of these claims must be made by the relevant authorities and the court, should the case go to trial.
A separate dispute involves the Schmalgauzen trademark
Another part of the dispute concerns the band’s name and trademarks. The musicians claim that the Schmalgauzen trademark was registered to a third party without their knowledge. According to the frontmen, Andriy Shyrko allegedly has direct influence over this person. “The Schmalgauzen trademark was registered in the name of a third party without our knowledge, a person over whom Mr. Shyrko, in his own words, has direct influence. After all, our request to have it transferred to us was denied,” the band members said.
The musicians also stated that in March 2026, Shirko independently filed applications to register three more trademarks under the name Schmalgauzen. According to the frontmen, they tried to resolve the situation without going to court. They first contacted lawyers and proposed a meeting to negotiate an amicable settlement of the conflict. “We contacted lawyers, thereby initiating a meeting to resolve our conflict through an amicable agreement. Mr. Shirko did not show up for the first meeting, and he sent a representative to the second one,” the musicians stated.
After that, according to them, they decided to take legal action. Schmalgauzen plans to file a complaint with law enforcement authorities, challenge the trademark registrations, and demand that access to the band’s resources be restored.
Andriy Shirko’s Response
Andriy Shirko, for his part, also responded publicly to the situation. He wrote on social media that he views the conflict as the end of a long-standing friendship. “This is how a friendship that seemed to last an eternity ends—in such a despicable, ironic, and lowly way,” Shirko wrote.
At the same time, he stated that he does not want to publicly disclose all the details of the conflict and is prepared to address the allegations through legal channels. “Still, I would prefer to avoid mudslinging on my part. I’m ready to take this challenge through the legal system, just as I was ready for the quiet dialogue we’ve been having even today through our lawyers,” the director noted.
Shirko also thanked the team that, according to him, had been working on the Schmalgauzen project for many years. However, as of the publication of this article, there has been no detailed public response from Valentin Bilokon to the musicians’ accusations. UP.Culture reached out to him and Andriy Shirko for comment.
What Will Happen to the Funds for the European Tour
Separately, the members of Schmalgauzen addressed the issue of refunding tickets for the canceled European tour. The musicians recorded another video in which they explained that, together with lawyers and financial advisors, they are currently looking for a way to organize refunds. According to them, a special form is being developed for this purpose. It is to be published on the band’s new page.
In other words, the conflict with the former management affects more than just internal band matters. It is already impacting organizational aspects related to performances and fans’ money.
Colleagues Have Taken Opposing Sides
Amid the conflict, artist Aglaya Nogina, who has been collaborating with Schmalgauzen for several years, expressed her position. She supported Andriy Shyrka and Valentin Bilokon and urged people not to draw conclusions based solely on statements from one side. “I won’t believe that Andriy and Valik embezzled funds until I see documentary evidence of it,” Nogina wrote.
She added that she does not wish to justify other actions mentioned by the band members. At the same time, the artist emphasized that outsiders are not aware of all the circumstances of the conflict. “You only know one side, but there are always two sides to a conflict,” Nogina noted.
Under her post, the musicians’ former manager, Nastya Druzenko, shared her position. She stated that she had not received an explanation for her dismissal and, according to her, was left without her final paycheck. Druzenko also claims that after her dismissal, she tried to contact Andriy Shyrko personally but received no response. “You write about documentary evidence. It certainly exists. There’s more than enough of it even on my phone,” wrote the former manager.
She added that she had previously been on good terms with Shirko and even sent him a long message after her dismissal, but never received a reply.
What is known about Schmalgauzen
Schmalgauzen is a Ukrainian theater and music group founded by students at the Ivan Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theater, Cinema, and Television. The group began performing in 2020. Over the course of a few years, the project grew from a student group into a well-known theater and music ensemble that performs at major venues and combines music with theatrical productions.
The project included musicians, actors, and other professionals. Andriy Shirko served as the group’s director, while Valentin Bilokon was its director and producer. It is with them that a public conflict has now arisen.
At present, both sides have publicly stated their positions; however, final conclusions regarding the possible misappropriation of funds, access, or the unlawful registration of trademarks can only be drawn after reviewing the documents and, if necessary, after the cases are considered by the relevant authorities and courts. Schmalgauzen frontmen Vladislav Mikhalchuk and Mikhail Matyukhin discussed the conflict in a video.
