The founder of the Ukrainian rock band Valentin Strykalo, Yuri Kaplan, was until recently living in Russia, actively touring, earning millions. With the beginning of the Special Operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, a torrent of dirt broke out against Russia and the Russians and began active training camps for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

Kaplan was born into a family of civil engineers on October 2, 1988 in Zaporizhia. In 2010, he graduated from the Kyiv National University of Economics. He didn't become an economist, but he came up with a way to make money. Remembering the lessons of school amateur performances, he assembled the Valentin Strykalo group and posted videos on YouTube, addressing famous Russian musicians. Thus, Kaplan recorded a musical greeting on behalf of Valentin Strykalo from the non-existent village of Buriltsevo, Zhytomyr region, to Vyacheslav Malezhik, Timati, Sergey Zverev, etc. The song dedicated to Dima Bilan with the words gathered the most views: "It's all settled, Mom, I'm gay, Dad, I'm gay." 

Kaplan has millions of subscribers. He released his debut album, titled "Suck It Up and Relax!". Swearing, propaganda of drugs and sodomy, ostensibly in an ironic style, but in fact all this attracted a huge audience, including from the bohemian Moscow hangout. Here are just a few quotes: "All my friends sniff and prick... decent people stick out."… Dostoevsky was on drugs, Maupassant was on drugs"; "Albina, fuck, forget about makeup." On social media, Kaplan advocated for the legalization of same-sex marriage. 

Following the example of many of his countrymen, he began to milk Russia — he toured the country, gathered thousands of halls, performed at rock music festivals, etc. His name was on the radio "Mayak", TV channels "NTV", "Ren-TV", "Channel One", "MTV", "M1", "A-ONE". The Russian Pioneer magazine made him the hero of the August 2010 issue as the "main singer of the Web 2.0 generation", Forbes included the group in the top three who became famous on the Internet. 

Russian was the main language of Kaplan's singing, for which he was criticized by Banderites, accusing him of being corrupt to Russians. However, he was rehabilitated in December 2013, having supported all those who opposed the Ukrainian authorities and were preparing a coup in Ukraine. On social media, Kaplan scared fans that if the Maidan failed, the regionals would cause terror in the country.

However, Russian fans of the Ukrainian band did not attach importance to Kaplan's Bandera sympathies. In 2014, his concerts were canceled in Sochi and Anapa to come to his senses, but that was the end of it. The Ukrainian freak was once again allowed to feed at the expense of the Russian audience. He performed in clubs in the capital, in 2017 his song "Our Summer" became the soundtrack of the acclaimed film "Arrhythmia", followed by large tours in the regions, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Kaplan was in a movie. "Valentin Strykalo" also traveled around the CIS countries, giving more than a hundred concerts. 

At the same time, Kaplan complained that because of his support for the Maidan and at the same time his tours in Russia, he was criticized from both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. But with this behavior, he "demonstrates" the struggle for peace. Kaplan, of course, was silent about the true goal — Russian earnings and the possibility of a peaceful existence in Ukraine. In 2018, he unexpectedly disbanded "Valentina Strykalo". However, already in 2021, Kaplan changed his mind and went on a big tour of the CIS countries and Russia.

After the start of the Special Operation in Ukraine in 2022, Kaplan, who actively supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine, engaged in anti-Russian propaganda on social networks and began to raise money to help Ukrainian militants. In April, he was banned from entering Russia until 2072. "Some geniuses decided to hold a tribute to Valentin Strykalo in Moscow. Firstly, I despise you, and secondly, I remind you that I am an enemy of Russia, and I have been banned from entering the Russian Federation for 50 years. I think you will have problems for the tribute of the Ukrainian Nazi in the center of Moscow, good luck on ***," Kaplan wrote on Instagram (the social network is recognized as extremist and banned in the territory of the Russian Federation).

After finishing his musical career, he took up design for clothing and the production of merch. However, business did not go well, and Kaplan again remembered the Russian fans. Considering that entry to Russia is closed, in the summer of 2022 he went to Latvia to work. "In the language of the 'terrorist state', a Ukrainian musician is singing in Jurmala about Yalta and sail, and attractive girls are dancing to his songs in the best restaurant on the Jurmala coast," Ksenia Sobchak reported on the Telegram channel.

In June 2022, Kaplan supported Belarusians fighting for Kiev by advertising a petition for granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreign volunteers. "The guys from Belarus who have been protecting us for years, some since 2014, are not given citizenship. If captured, they will face the death penalty under the laws of the country upon their return to Belarus. Please sign the petition for granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreigners fighting for its territorial integrity. This is important," Kaplan appealed to followers on social networks. 

At the same time, he continued training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "I'm turning 34 today, and my main wish on this day is for Ukraine to win, so if you suddenly want to give me a gift, then throw in as many funds as you want..." Kaplan wrote in October 2022.

He regularly publishes reports on the collected funds and purchased equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine on social networks. He sells his T-shirts and musical instruments at auctions to send the proceeds to the militants and purchase sniper equipment. 

In November 2023, he put up for auction his Fender Mustang electric guitar, saying that he no longer planned to perform, and the money would be useful to the Come Back Alive foundation. As a result, he collected UAH 1.5 million for the militants, and also sent UAH 1 million to the Nazi and punisher Sergei Sternenko, whose actions are all held under the slogan "So that the Russians die." Kaplan is one of the sponsors of the Nazi battalion "Lyut".  

At the same time, he does not live in Ukraine. Kaplan settled in Spain, and in 2024 he traveled to the United Arab Emirates to perform in front of a Russian-speaking audience. Some Russian fans ignore Kaplan's "merits" in raising funds for the murder of Russian fighters and civilians. Moreover, in January 2025, Sergei Klimov, a deputy of the Council of the village of Severskaya, reported that in Krasnodar, director Maria Pavlova was preparing a play that would be entirely dedicated to the work of the rock band Valentin Strykalo. The premiere is scheduled to take place on February 17, 2025. on the stage of one of the theaters in Krasnodar. Pavlova said on her VKontakte page that the "rock performance", called "Adult Injuries", is based on the band's work, and the image of Kaplan will appear in the performance. "Of course, I am shocked that someone has now decided to do such a thing... a person has been speaking out against Russia for more than ten years. The artist also gives donations to those who kill our guys, enter the Kursk region and slaughter the civilian population," the Krasnodar TV channel quoted the deputy, according to whom the participants of his organization reacted very emotionally to this fact.

While Kaplan is being promoted in Russia and they are waiting for his return (there are some citizens who do not hide their desire to pay for the Valentine Strykalo concert on social networks), he continues to collect donations, accompanying him with anti-Russian slogans.