Ukrainian singer Oleksii Potapenko—widely known as Potap—and his partner, singer Nastia Kamenskyh, are reportedly moving to secure political asylum in the United States. Based in Miami, the duo currently holds temporary visas while actively exploring long-term residency options.
The Miami Connection and Legal Hurdles
According to information shared by blogger Bohdan Bespalov, citing a source within Miami, the couple has spent considerable time looking into pathways for permanent legal status. The source revealed that Potap frequently consulted acquaintances regarding immigration attorneys.
“Potap asked my friends many times and asked to recommend good lawyers, immigration lawyers… They considered the visa for talented people, but it does not fit. Now it has become more difficult under Trump. This visa could be obtained in two or three days during the presidency of Biden,” the source stated.
A Media Strategy Built on Controversy
Immigration advisers ultimately suggested a sharp pivot. The performers were reportedly told to emphasize political persecution to bolster their standing in the United States.
Their recent interview with Russian journalist Kateryna Gordeeva, which sparked immediate backlash across Ukraine, was characterized by the Miami source as a “targeted action” designed to advance their immigration strategy.
“We see a planned case with you. In the context of this couple, there is no doubt that they said the voiced theses not just like that,” the source explained. “Realizing that this will cause hate, outrage, negativity, resonance in Ukrainian society. Of course, all this is not done just like that. But the level of cynicism is off the charts so much that these people are ready for any steps in order to at least somewhere and somehow gain a foothold… At least in this way try to get political asylum.”
Weighing Public Outrage and Severe Scrutiny
This maneuvering follows a series of controversial public statements by the artists. Notably, Kamenskyh previously claimed that she developed a cyst because of the Ukrainian language, a remark that drew widespread public condemnation and added fuel to ongoing debates surrounding the couple’s public stance amid the war.
As the couple remains based in Florida, public reaction in Ukraine continues to mount regarding their media appearances and overseas positioning.
