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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Emma Wilson

The Killers refuse to perform in Russia after Putin's orders to invade Ukraine

The Killers have refused to perform in Russia after president Vladimir Putin's orders to invade Ukraine last week.

The rockers, who hail from Las Vegas, confirmed to TMZ they will no longer play at the Park Live Festival in Moscow this July.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has been condemned by world leaders, and the country’s capital Kyiv is now under vicious assault from Russian forces, despite calls for a ceasefire.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stayed in the country to defend the city - and civilians - from attack, and former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko , who is mayor of Kyiv, has also stayed behind to fight.

The Park Live Festival also features acts including My Chemical Romance, Sum 41, Gorillaz, Deftones, Iggy Pop, Five Finger Death Punch, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit, but it’s not yet known if they will also pull out of the gig.

The Killers, fronted by Brandon Flowers, have cancelled a gig in Russia (NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

The decision by The Killers comes just after fellow rockers Green Day announced they were cancelling their concert in May at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow.

“We are aware that this moment is not about stadium rock shows, it’s so much bigger than that,” the band wrote in a post on their Instagram Stories confirming the news.

“But we also know that rock and roll is forever and we feel confident there will be a time and a place for us to return in the future.”

The gig was due to take place in Russia as part of Green Day’s Hella Mega Tour.

Green Day have also scrapped a concert after the Russian invasion (Sean Hansford Manchester Evening)

World leaders have placed strict sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, and have banned the country from competing in sporting events, as well as Eurovision.

Yungblud also cancelled a gig in Russia, scheduled to take place this summer, and apologised to his fans, telling them he was “heartbroken”.

“Heartbroken because I know the vicious and brutal acts of the Russian regime in Ukraine over the past week do not reflect the attitudes and ideals of the beautiful people who I have met in Russia in the past,” he wrote.

Yungblud apologised after cancelling his Russian gig (Getty Images)

“Everyone deserves to be the creator of their own destiny, rather than having it forced upon them by acts of war and aggression” the rocker added.

Former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson also announced he was cancelling a gig in Russia, as well as Ukraine, after the invasion.

“The safety of my fans is my priority and my thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine and all those suffering from this needless war,” he said.

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