Franz Ferdinand cancel shows in Russia in wake of Ukraine conflict

Franz Ferdinand has joined the contingent of musicians cancelling their upcoming shows in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine — including Yungblud, Green Day and Louis Tomlinson.

The Scottish rock-band have confirmed this morning via Instagram that they will not be playing their Moscow and St. Petersburg gigs on June 29 and July 1.

"The only reason for this is the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian state," the band wrote. "We love Russia. This great country has inspired our band through its art and literature and since we first played there 17 years ago, we have built a rich and deep relationship with our Russian fans," the caption continued.

"Since Thursday morning, we have spoken to many of our friends in Russia via social media and have encountered unanimous opposition to this violence and solidarity with our Ukrainian friends. We know you see the madness of your country’s leadership. We know you do not want war. We do not want war."

"Despite the tragedy of this situation, we still burn a flame of optimism in our hearts and look forward to the day when we can return in a time of peace to share the joy of music together again."

We are cancelling our Russian shows that are scheduled for this summer. The only reason for this is the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian state. 1/4

— Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) March 1, 2022

Franz Ferdinand front man Alex Kapranos told Hot Press's Stuart Clark in the immediate aftermath of the attack: "It's horrible because we've played in both Odessa and Kiev in recent years. They're both amazing cities and I know people over there who must now be so frightened and concerned for themselves and their loved ones. For Russians as well – the ones I've met when we've been there don't want to go to war. I do think Putin is criminally insane."

Many Ukranian musicians have begged streaming services to allow them to post pro-Ukraine messages on their platforms in a show of solidarity, including DakhaBrakha, Slukh and the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

"The world in which music is out of politics is over," wrote DakhaBrakha in a statement. "Please allow us to tell the truth and stop the bloodshed. We want everyone who cares to spread our message."

Violence erupted late last week after years of tension. According to Russian president Vladimir Putin, the aim of the invasion was the "demilitarisation and de-Natizification" of Ukraine — a claim at odds with the country's popular Jewish President, Volodymr Zelensky.

Franz Ferdinand will release their new album Hits To The Head on March 11.

Hello World. Hits To The Head, March 11 💥

Pre-order: https://t.co/EiCAWc7tkV pic.twitter.com/LkRZUcdgfF

— Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) November 2, 2021