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Evgeniy VolnovFamous Ukrainian pranker and Internet figure
Country:
 Ukraine |
Biography of Yevgeny Volnov
Yevgeny Volnov is a well-known Ukrainian prankster and internet personality who has taken the art of prank calling to new heights. With over 250,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, he consistently pushes the boundaries with his cynical pranks.
Known by various nicknames such as Volnya, Zhirobas, and the "intellectual product of our time," Volnov considers himself a talented impersonator and artist. He incorporates computer technology into his pranks, often using a program called "Voice Morpher" to enhance his performances.
Volnov has faced criticism for his use of explicit language and the disregard of moral and ethical norms. However, this has only fueled his popularity and expanded his fan base, even reaching audiences in Russia. He has been targeted by hackers who have attempted to expose compromising information about him. Despite these challenges, Volnov has managed to navigate these situations and emerge with even greater popularity.
There have been rumors circulating about Volnov's alleged suicide and murder attempts. For instance, on January 25, 2014, a post on his VKontakte page claimed that he had taken his own life, causing concern among his friends and followers. However, Volnov clarified that his account had been hacked by a group called huntertrol. Similarly, in November 2014, he announced during a livestream that he would no longer make prank calls. This saddened his fans, but he later revealed it was a mass trolling and continued his pranks.
Another rumor surrounding Volnov was the claim that he had been severely beaten, resulting in the amputation of his leg. Many believed this story until he appeared in a video in 2015, disproving the "legend of the leg." Additionally, he is credited with inventing the concept of the "Sluzhba Priema Bugurtov" (SPB), which involves sharing his phone number and encouraging people to distribute it for various reasons, leading to unsuspecting individuals unwittingly becoming participants in his pranks.
In March 2017, false reports surfaced that Volnov's body had been found with stab wounds in Kiev, Ukraine. However, the news was only published by the prankotadotcom page, causing skepticism regarding its credibility. On March 26, Volnov "resurrected" and continued his activities. He gained renewed attention in March 2018 when he spread false information about the number of fatalities in the "Zimnaya Vishnya" shopping center fire in Kemerovo, Russia. Posing as an employee of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, he called morgues in Kemerovo and claimed that the death toll had reached 300. The prank, titled "Ugoream s Kemerovo" (Laughing about Kemerovo), involved him asking his subscribers for compensation for each call.
As a response to the ensuing controversy, Volnov explained that his actions were intended to draw attention to the tragedies in Syria and Donbass. He criticized the Russian authorities, accusing them of concealing the true extent of the losses. He insisted that he was the only one brave enough to speak the truth about the Kemerovo tragedy and claimed that the media should not trust any Russian institutions.
Following these events, Volnov was charged in absentia by the Investigative Committee of Russia under Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to incitement of hatred, hostility, or humiliation of human dignity. He was subsequently placed on an international wanted list.
Despite the controversy and legal issues surrounding him, Yevgeny Volnov continues to entertain and engage his audience with his unique and provocative pranks.
