Pavlo Zibrov names the amount of his pension, calling himself a "rich man"

Pavlo Zibrov, People's Artist of Ukraine, admitted that his pension is not enough for a comfortable life, so he has to stage concerts and work part-time. However, due to the amount of money he earns above the minimum wage, the 66-year-old singer considers himself a rich man.

In an interview with Planetarium, Zibrov noted that compared to foreign pensioners, Ukrainians receive "miserable" state benefits. He recalled that the amount of his pension was initially 2500 UAH, but eventually grew to 8300.

"Our pensions are so small. We traveled abroad, and you see how they have pensioners going on ships and cruises. I'm kind of a pensioner. I already have a book. We started with a very ridiculous amount. Now they have raised it. It started with 2500 UAH, then 4000 something, and now it's 8300. More or less. 8300 compared to 2800-3000, I am a rich person. Even though I can earn money by giving concerts or teaching. I don't cry," the singer admitted.

It is known that people's artists of Ukraine receive a pension supplement, but even this amount is not enough for a comfortable life. "They said you'll retire, People's Artist, Professor... I asked for how much. The response was about 30 thousand, maybe 40 thousand, maybe even 50 thousand," he continued.

Nowadays, Zibrov is trying to increase his income by other means: giving concerts and teaching at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. He admits that at 66 years old he has a lot of energy and cannot sit around without work.

"The concerts are charity events, but sometimes they are also high-grossing. It's clear that people can't afford tickets at 1500-2000 UAH. We make them affordable. We are well aware that people don't have that much money to pay now. They just need to come. The most important thing is that the chairs are not empty. Plus, I teach with Mykhailo Poplavskyi. I am grateful to him. I've been heading the department [at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts] for two years now. I have my own students, pupils. I am interested in this. I also need to pay the utility bills, fill up the car, get dressed and feed my family," he said.

It is worth noting that back in February, Pavlo Zibrov said that he received UAH 7,500 in pension, and at the beginning of 2022, the amount was UAH 5,740.

"It doesn't matter whether you are a folk artist or not. The longevity pension is also based on the contributions you made to the Pension Fund. There is a pension supplement, I think it's 20%. I thought that everyone was grieving, calculating, because I was a combatant in Afghanistan, I fought 45 years ago, and I was a People's Artist, and I was awarded certificates of merit... I thought that everything would come together and I would have a pension of 50 thousand. To hell with that!" the artist said in February this year.

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