Vera Brezhneva

Vira Viktorivna Halushka (born 3 February 1982), known mononymously as Vira (stylised in Latin all caps) and previously by the stage name Vera Brezhneva, is a Ukrainian singer, television presenter, and actress. She has released two studio albums, two extended plays, and numerous standalone singles. She also acted in multiple Russian-language films, including the Love in the Big City franchise and two Yolki installments, and appeared as a presenter on Russian television. Throughout her career, she has been recognised as a sex symbol. Her accolades include Golden Gramophone Awards and ZD Awards. In 2014, she became a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, she left Russia, changed her stage name, and switched to recording in Ukrainian.

Early life Vira Viktorivna Halushka was born on 3 February 1982 in Dniprodzerzhynsk, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union. Her parents Viktor and Tamara worked at the Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant. She has three sisters, one older sister named Halyna and younger twins named Anastasia and Viktoria. She earned a degree by correspondence from the faculty of economics of the Dnipropetrovsk Institute of Railway Engineering, specialising in accounting. This lineup recorded the Russian-language studio albums Stop! Snyato! and Biologiya as well as the English-language studio album Stop! Stop! Stop! (all 2003). Due to its massive popularity, it gained the name of the "golden lineup". The track "" (; Don't Leave Me, Love!) won a Golden Gramophone Award at the 2003 ceremony, while the Valery Meladze collaboration "" (; There Is No More Attraction) won one in 2004. She also contributed to the compilation album Brillianty (2005), which spawned a single of the same title that gave its name to the "diamond lineup" consisting of Brezhneva, Meiher, and Albina Dzhanabaeva. They received a special Diamond Gramophone at the 2005 Golden Gramophone Awards. After another Golden Gramophone Award in 2006, Brezhneva left to pursue a solo career in July 2007.

2008–2022: Solo career in Russia Brezhneva was the presenter of the Russian version of the Power of 10 game show, (; Magic of 10), which ran on Channel One Russia for two seasons from 7 January to 31 August 2008. The same year, she participated in the second season of the Russian ice show contest Ice Age. She released her debut solo single "" (; I Don't Play) on 19 May 2008 and followed it up with "" on 27 October. She played Katya in the 2009 film Love in the Big City and performed a song of the same name for its soundtrack, "" ; it was released as a single on 5 February 2009. She released three further singles that year: "" (; Love Will Save the World) on 13 April, All previously released singles, with the exception of "", were included on her debut solo album (2010). A premiere event for the album was held on 24 November 2010 at Blanc Café in Moscow. That December, she won her first Golden Gramophone Award as a solo artist for the song "".

Brezhneva appeared as herself in the 2010 film Yolki and its 2011 sequel. On 18 May 2011, she released the single "" (; Real Life). "Sexy Bambina" was released as the last single from Lyubov spasyot mir on 30 November 2011. "" (; I Am Looking for You) from the soundtrack to 8 First Dates on 18 June, and the DJ Smash collaboration "" (; Love from a Distance) on 21 September. 2013 saw the release of three singles: "" (; Good Day), which won her a Golden Gramophone Award, "" (; Say) with Druha Rika, she also reprised her role in the film.

After the Russo-Ukrainian War broke out in February 2014, Brezhneva continued her career in Russia. She released three singles that year: "" (; Good Morning), which won her a Golden Gramophone Award, "Luna" with Aleksandr Revva, and "" (; My Girl). In 2016, she starred in 8 Best Dates. Between 2015 and 2020, she released a series of standalone singles.

In 2017, Brezhneva opened a women's boutique in Saint Petersburg with Russian fashion designer Hanna Khmelyova. In 2019, she told Russian television personality Vyacheslav Manucharov that she did not consider herself a Ukrainian singer and was not seen as such by other Ukrainians, citing the lack of Ukrainian-language songs in her repertoire and her career in Russia; the statement received criticism in Ukraine. Her first extended play V. was released in 2020 and contained her first song in Ukrainian, co-written by Jerry Heil. Following another few standalone singles, her final Russian-language release was a cover of "30 Minut" by t.A.T.u. for a tribute album marking the 20th anniversary of the group's debut album 200 Po Vstrechnoy. The tribute album was released on 5 November 2021. Her first Ukrainian-language extended play (; Thank You) was released on 6 October 2023. It was preceded by two singles, "" (; Such People We Are) and the title track. Her Saint Petersburg boutique closed at the end of that year as a result of her departure from Russia. "" (; Everything Will Pass) on 22 November 2024, and "" (; You) on 10 January 2025. Her first full-length Ukrainian album (; Radiance) is scheduled for release on 25 September 2026. It was preceded by the singles "" (; Beautiful) on 25 June, "" (; My Sunshine) on 24 July, and "" (; I Was Not Finished Speaking) on 26 August.

Personal life Brehneva has a daughter born in 2001 from her relationship with Vitaliy Voychenko, deputy mayor of Yalta from 2010 to 2013. She was married to Ukrainian businessman from 2006 to 2012, and they have a daughter born in 2009. 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. Prior to the invasion, Brezhneva resided primarily in Russia. Since 2022, she has divided her time between Italy, Latvia, and Ukraine. , she is in a relationship.

Discography Singles

Albums Studio albums (2010) VERVERA (2015) (2026)

EPs V. (2020) (2023)

Awards and accolades

Over the course of her career, Brezhneva has received awards and accolades for her music, appearance, and activism. She won five Golden Gramophone Awards as a member of Nu Virgos and an additional five as a solo artist.Golden Gramophones received by Nu Virgos while Brezhneva was a member:

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