If we talk about the bands that shaped the modern Ukrainian musical culture, Druga Rika will definitely be on this list. Although, when in the mid-1990s a few guys in Zhytomyr started rehearsing under Depeche Mode, nobody could imagine that a few years later they would become one of the main symbols of the Ukrainian rock scene.
Now "Druga Rika" is a band that gathers stadiums and whose songs are sung by several generations of fans. The artists went from rehearsals in the hall of Zhytomyr Pedagogical Institute to the main stages of the capital. During this time the band's composition changed several times, there were periods of creative lull and serious health problems of the lead singer. But in spite of everything, "Druga Rika" remained faithful to the listeners and its style, playing concerts in Europe and at home, proving that real rock music has no expiration date and is able to unite hearts even in the darkest times. On the occasion of the band's 30th anniversary we remember how Zhytomyr romantics conquered Kiev, Europe and the hearts of hundreds of thousands of fans.
Birth of the band in Zhytomyr
Although officially it is 1996 that is considered the time of the appearance of the group "Druga Rika", the foundation of the musical collective happened a little earlier. It all started in the early 1990s, when two musicians with similar views on creativity and an irresistible desire to create their own songs met in the Ukrainian city of Zhitomir. They were future band leader Valeriy Kharchyshyn and guitarist Alexander Baranovsky.
At that time Ukrainian music scene was just forming its style and character, and young performers were trying themselves in different formats - from classic rock and pop-rock to their own genre experiments. It was in such an atmosphere that the formation of the Druga Rika collective began.
Childhood of Valery Kharchyshyn and other founders
The future frontman of the band Valeriy Kharchyshyn was born on May 26, 1974 in the small town of Lyubar (Zhitomir region). His acquaintance with music began in his early childhood - with a music school, where the boy mastered playing the trumpet. As the artist later recalled in an interview, at that time he listened mainly to classics. Rock in the life of the young man came a little later in the form of The Cure and Depeche Mode.
By the way, Kharchishin became a singer almost by accident. After graduating from school Valery entered Zhytomyr Ogienko School of Culture and Arts to study wind instruments. The young man planned to become a trumpeter and was convinced that he could not sing. But at the exam, at the request of one of the members of the commission, Kharchyshyn performed "Reve ta stogne Dnipro broad" (a song based on poems by Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko), and everyone was convinced that he could sing.
Two other founders of the band - Victor Skuratovsky (bass guitar) and Alexander Baranovsky (guitar) - are also from Zhitomir. All three of them met under the dormitory of the college. This is where the history of the collective's ascent began.
The first rehearsals at the pedagogical institute
In 1995 Kharchyshyn, Skuratovsky and Baranovsky created a band called Second River. The first rehearsals took place in the premises of Zhytomyr Pedagogical Institute. By the way, it was in this educational institution that the guys first went on stage in a band format. At the end of 1996 drummer Alexey Doroshenko joined the band.
English-speaking repertoire and Depeche Mode influence
At the beginning of their creative way the band sang exclusively in English, oriented on the sound of Depeche Mode with its electronic textures, restraint and synthesizer coldness. But in parallel, the guitar influence of The Cure was also felt. It was this mix of electronica, postpunk and rock that became the starting point for the aesthetics that Druga Rika later transformed into their own recognizable style.
Changing the band's name and switching to the Ukrainian language
The time of 1998-1999 was a turning point for the band. Second River demos were heard by Volodymyr Luchkin, who later became the tour manager of another legendary Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy. He was impressed by the young musicians' creativity. He invited the band to audition for the festival "Maybutniye Ukrainy", and also offered to record at the Kiev studio.
Why Second River became "Another River"
The transition from English to Ukrainian repertoire, and at the same time the change of name ("Druga Rika" - literal translation of Second River) is a conscious choice of the band. Although in the late 1990s it was commercially risky to sing in Ukrainian, but for the musicians this step became a manifesto of creative identity. This is how Druga Rika turned from followers of Western trends into original artists. The name change took place just during the preparation for the festival "Chervona Ruta 1999". From that moment the new history of the band began.
Moving to Kiev and the first serious festivals ("Chervona ruta", "Maybutne Ukraina").
After the name change the artists moved to Kiev. The debut on the capital's platform took place at the festival "Rock-Existence". Then there was "Chervona ruta". But the real breakthrough happened on the stage of "Maybutne Ukraina" in 1999. Then the young group took the first place, beating more than a hundred competitors.
Breakthrough to the big stage and first hits
After the festival victories the way to professional recording studios was opened for the musicians from Zhytomyr. In the fall of 2000 Druga Rika recorded and released their debut album. The tracks instantly hit the radio airwaves. The way to the big stage begins.
Debut album "I am" and support of Skryabin
One of the first people that Druga Rika met in Kiev were the musicians of Skryabin. They helped the budding artists with their tracks and supported them at the beginning of their creative journey. With the support of Skryabin the Zhytomyr band recorded their first album "I am". The record finally marked the creative handwriting of the band: live guitar sound, deep lyrics, intonations on the edge of rock and lyrics. In the fall of 2000 "Druga Rika" became the opening act of PROSTO ROCK festival.
Golden era and peak of popularity (2004-2009)
The band finally enters the number of the main Ukrainian rock bands. The halls become bigger, the tour routes wider and the audience more loyal. In the beginning of 2005 "Druga Rika" releases the single "So little here for you", which made a real sensation. The composition did not leave the top lines of Ukrainian charts for 32 weeks. In April of the same year at the peak of popularity the band released the third album - "Rekordi", which became "golden". The collection included the hits that became popular: "P'yu z yuh dolon", "Sleep to Tomorrow", "Vidchinyay", "Tri khvilini". Until now, no concert can do without these songs, whether it is a performance in Ukraine or a tour of European cities.
With the release of the album "Rekordi" the band switched to the model of full self-production, taking on the management, costumes, scenography, shooting, formation of their own style.
In 2006 the single "DenNich" was released, which traditionally for the band became not just a popular hit, but the best song of the year. Soon "Druga Rika" presents another collection of 13 best tracks dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the band.
Two years later another, fourth album "Fashion" with the dynamic hit "Furia" is released. It invariably causes a powerful response from the audience at concerts. This year was marked by another victory for Kharchishin - he received the title of the best vocalist according to the music award "NePopsa".
Experiments and new horizons
The 2010s became a time of creative searches and experiments for the band. "Druga Rika" abandoned the template pop-rock in favor of more complex forms.
In 2011, the artists released a joint song with Vera Brezhneva "Say" - lyrical music with social overtones. 2012 was marked by the release of the first part of the album "Metanoia". At the same time Kharchyshyn launches a charity marathon "I will live" - a social project dedicated to the fight against lymphoma. Charity has since become an integral part of the musicians' social life.
In 2014, the sixth studio album Supernation and the musical movie of the same name about the band were released. At the same time the band undergoes another change of composition - one of its founders Viktor Skuratovsky leaves the band, who instead of music decided to engage in music video-making. He was replaced by guitarist Andriy Lavrynenko.
"Druga Rika", whose biography has many bright pages, in 2025 decides on another bold experiment - launches a series of concerts with the orchestra of folk instruments NAONL in the National Opera of Ukraine. The audience warmly welcomed the collaboration - each performance gathered full halls.
In 2016, in honor of the 20th anniversary, the band goes on tour in Ukraine, consisting of more than 20 concerts, and the next year pleases fans with the next collection "Piramida". During this period Ukrainian stars in Europe, USA and Canada become frequent guests, and the public quickly buys tickets as soon as the places and dates of upcoming shows are announced.
"Druga Rika" now: 30th anniversary, new singles and music videos
The period 2025-2026 is the time of the next anniversary of the band, as well as new releases and large-scale concerts. Even now, when the artists have already 30 years of creative activity behind them, they continue to surprise fans with new hits.
New singles and music videos 2022-2026
After a temporary lull, the band returned to studio work. In 2025 they presented the single "Zalishayu dim", dedicated to the millions of Ukrainians forced to leave their homes. In 2026 another novelty was released - "7'Ya in online" - about love and intimacy in an era when physical presence has become a luxury.
The main event of 2025-2026 was the anniversary show "I am! 30 Rokiv", dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the collective. After the grandiose show in the Palace of Sports in Kiev, Druga Rika went on tour in Ukraine and Europe.
Current lineup and life of the members
The composition of the group "Druga Rika" in 2026:
Valeriy Kharchyshyn - vocals, trumpet, lyrics;
Oleksandr Baranovsky - guitar;
Alexey Doroshenko - drums;
Sergey Bilichenko - guitar;
Sergey (Shura) Gera - keys, backing vocals;
Andrey Lavrinenko - bass guitar.
The members of the collective have long gone beyond just music. Valery Kharchishin, for example, has successfully realized himself in cinematography, engaged in social activities, takes part in various projects, one of the brightest - "Dancing with the Stars". Other members of the group in parallel are engaged in clip-making, the development of the recording industry.
Discography and prestigious nominations
For three decades, "Druga Rika" released about a dozen albums and compilations, the most significant among them:
"I Am";
"Two";
"Recordi";
"Fashion";
"Metanoia";
"Piramida".
During the years of their career the band has collected many prestigious music awards and nominations. Among them are YUNA, Best Ukrainian Act at MTV Europe Music Awards, "Zolota zhyr-bird". But the most important achievement is the love of the public, which allows the artists to gather halls and stadiums for 30 years.
