People's Artist of Ukraine Larisa Kadochnikova commented on the language incident with her participation during the presentation of the Sergei Parajanov Award of the National Union of Cinematographers on January 9, 2025. Ukrinform reports this.

She called it a “misunderstanding” and expressed hope that the language incident had already resolved itself..

“Memories of Sergei Parajanov, as well as the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors,” still evoke the deepest emotions. I'm confused. Yes, in everyday life and almost all my life I communicated and performed in Russian. The full-scale invasion changed me, my dear Lesya Ukrainka Theater, my fans, our entire country. Ukraine is my home and I’m not going anywhere. I switched to Ukrainian on stage and try, as far as possible, to communicate in it in life. I hope that my sincere appeal will resolve the misunderstanding that has occurred,” Kadochnikova said in a comment to Ukrinform.

Meanwhile, the general director of the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theater, of which Kadochnikova is an actress, Kirill Kashlikov, noted that the theater’s position remains unchanged - the team refused to play performances in Russian.

During the Sergei Parajanov Award ceremony, actress Larisa Kadochnikova spoke from the stage in Russian. She stated that she has the right to speak the language in which she is comfortable.

This caused a controversial reaction from those present at the ceremony in the Red Hall of the House of Cinema and a wide resonance in society after the distribution of a video from her speech.

To the demand of those present in the hall to speak Ukrainian, she replied: “I play in Ukrainian in the theater. Excuse me, I have the right to speak at least in English. Please respect me, I have done a lot for Ukraine. I don’t go anywhere, I’m here, and I play plays in the theater in Ukrainian"

The most famous film role of Larisa Kadochnikova is Marichka in the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” directed by Sergei Parajanov.