Ukrainian World Congress Criticizes ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Oscar Eligibility Following Allegations Film Partly Funded By Russian Oligarch

Following reports that Top Gun: Maverick (2022) was partially funded by a Russian Oligarch, a Ukrainian expatriate group sent out an open letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, questioning whether the film is permitted to be in the Oscars.

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) addressed their letter to Janet Yang, film producer and president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the members of the Board of Governors. 

They expressed gratitude for the academy’s long-standing support of Ukraine and solidarity from Academy members amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They also expressed concern over Russia’s influence on the Hollywood film industry.

“On January 3, 2022, the LA Times revealed that the film was funded by Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian oligarch sanctioned by Ukraine.

Rybolovlev is one of Russia’s wealthiest oligarchs and a known close friend and business partner of Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.3 For a decade, Rybolovlev was Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko’s most significant business partner in potash exports, sustaining his authoritarian regime with cash flows. Since buying up assets outside of Russia, Rybolovlev has been under criminal investigation in Monaco, France, and Switzerland for alleged corruption.

Rybolovlev’s funding of Top Gun: Maverick was not publicly disclosed and there is good reason to believe that his involvement may have led to censorship on behalf of the Kremlin. Contrary to the original film, Top Gun: Maverick makes no direct or indirect reference to Russia. This is hardly a coincidence. Hollywood must be vigilant and transparent of Russian money being used to further proKremlin censorship.”

The UWC made three requests:

1. To reject films with any direct or indirect investments by Russian oligarchs or “enablers of Russia’s genocidal war on Ukraine.”
2. To review the eligibility of Top Gun: Maverick from participating in the Oscars
3. To issue a strong statement condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine and any attempts to influence Hollywood and American society.

Top Gun: Maverick has been nominated for “Best Picture,” “Adapted Screenplay,” “Editing,” “Original Song,” and “Sound and Visual Effects.”