The star of TV series like "Stolen Happiness" and "Crime with Many Unknowns," notable Ukrainian actor Olexiy Bohdanovych, spoke about his brother, who resides in Russia. The actor shared insights into their relationship.

The celebrity revealed that his brother has been living in the aggressor country for over 50 years. The brothers originally hail from the Sumy region, but after university, the elder sibling moved to Russia, while Olexiy stayed in Ukraine. According to the actor, his brother now holds a senior position in Russia, though exactly what role remains undisclosed. The siblings ceased communication several years before the full-scale invasion, and they no longer maintain contact.

"It just so happened that at some point, our sisters stayed in Ukraine while the brothers ended up in Russia. One of my brothers has passed away, so I only have one sibling left over there. Our active communication ended long before February 24, 2022, as relations between our countries became strained after the annexation of Crimea. To be honest, it is dangerous for him, not me. He holds a senior post in Russia, and so has to follow the government's lead. I don't judge him. He's been there since he was 20 years old, almost half a century now. After finishing his studies, he moved there for work. He started building his career, became respected in certain circles, and has a good financial standing, including properties, even in Crimea. So, he has a lot to lose," Bohdanovych shared in an interview with OBOZ.UA.

The actor emphasized that he does not judge his brother. He is convinced that his sibling does not support the war in Ukraine, but remains silent about the invasion out of fear of losing everything.

"I know my brother's stance. He’s a normal, rational person. His mind hasn’t been corrupted by propaganda. For me, that's enough. Let’s stay family in my memory, not become enemies," Olexiy stated.

The artist also mentioned that it’s been several years since he last spoke with his brother. On rare occasions, their wives keep in touch, although they intentionally avoid discussing the war to protect the brother from danger. Moreover, Olexiy believes that if his brother wants to know about the attacks, he can find out on his own without needing his account of it.

"The FSB is always watching, monitoring everything. Knowing this, we gradually decreased contact. We used to talk about the weather, about our mom while she was still alive. Once the major war began, those conversations stopped altogether. Our wives sometimes text each other, but no one asks any questions. I told my wife not to share anything. What they want to know, they’ll find out on their own," the celebrity concluded.

For reference, actress Natalka Denysenko had previously discussed whether she regretted filming alongside Russian actors. She also opened up about sensing any superiority from Russian artists.

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