The Culture and Information Policy Ministry of Ukraine has called on Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Sovrintendente of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Francesco Giambrone to cancel the performances of Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko at the Rome Opera.

"The voice of propaganda should not be heard in the world. We consider any cooperation with the bearers of enemy narratives, among whom Russian cultural figures occupy an honorable place, unacceptable. After all, the aggressor uses art as a method of justifying numerous war crimes, including the murder of Ukrainian civilians, massive and targeted attacks on residential buildings, infrastructure facilities, institutions and cultural monuments," the ministry said in a statement.

It emphasized that the aggressor country's cultural figures have no place on the world's leading stages, and attempts to assist Russia in disseminating imperial narratives are an attempt to downplay the horrors of war, legitimizing Russian crimes in Ukraine.

"We are sure that the planned performances of the Russian singer are an unfortunate mistake. Anna Netrebko publicly supports the Putin regime and the annexation of Crimea and is a bearer of the Russian imperial ideology and an accomplice to the crimes of the Russian Federation," the ministry said.

As reported, Ukrainian Ambassador to Italy Yaroslav Melnyk sent a letter to Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Director of the Rome Opera Francesco Giambrone calling for the cancellation of the performance of the Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko, since it "is an insult to the Ukrainian people."