For two decades, Aviator (Ukrainian band) has remained a familiar name in Ukrainian pop, evolving from a three-member romantic boy band into a two-man act that has adapted its music to a dramatically changing country. Formed in Kyiv in 2005, the group originally brought together Andriy Storozh, Dmytro Todoriuk and Igor Voievutskyi. Their early music was built around melody, romance and polished pop arrangements, helping them develop a loyal audience during the mid-2000s.

Today, the group consists of Storozh and Todoriuk. Voievutskyi left in 2018 to pursue a solo project, while the remaining members continued performing and releasing new material under their own Aviator Music label. The last several years have also changed the subjects the musicians sing about. Alongside the romantic songs that defined their early career, newer releases have addressed Ukraine, war, military service and national resilience.

Aviator (Ukrainian band): How the Group Began in Kyiv

The origins of Aviator (Ukrainian band) can be traced to Ukrainian television. Dmytro Todoriuk and Igor Voievutskyi met in 2004 while participating in the television project Shans (“Chance”). Producer Yuriy Nikitin was working as the programme’s sound producer at the time, and the idea of forming a three-member boy band began to take shape. Andriy Storozh subsequently joined them.

The new group made its official debut on May 29, 2005, during the gala concert for the fourth season of Shans. They performed the song “Vozvrashchaysya” (“Come Back”), which became one of the songs most closely associated with their early period.

The original lineup featured:

• Andriy Storozh — vocals and keyboards
• Dmytro Todoriuk — vocals and acoustic guitar
• Igor Voievutskyi — vocals and guitar

The combination of three male vocalists, romantic songwriting and carefully constructed pop arrangements helped the band establish a recognisable identity.

Their Breakthrough With On Air

The group’s first studio album, V efire — usually translated as On Air — arrived in 2005. It established the sound that would define much of their early career: accessible pop melodies, romantic themes and strong vocal harmonies. The album was followed by several releases during the group’s most prolific recording period.

Their listed discography includes:

The band’s official biography says its debut record earned a Golden Disc, while the musicians also received a Best New Artist honour and several Song of the Year awards during their early career.

Which Songs Made Aviator Popular?

Several tracks became long-running parts of the group’s concert repertoire. The band’s official website identifies songs such as:

• “Povertaisya” / “Come Back”
• “Mania”
• “Podarunok” / “Present”
• “Za vysokymy berezamy”
• “Narechena” / “Bride”
• “Nebo na dvokh” / “Sky for Two”
• “4.5.0.”
• “Azov”

as important songs in its catalogue.

The early material leaned strongly toward romance and relationships. That approach helped the musicians occupy a distinct place in Ukrainian mainstream pop, particularly during a period when male vocal groups were a prominent part of television and radio entertainment.

From MAMAMUSIC to Their Own Label

From 2005 until 2012, the group worked with the MAMAMUSIC production centre. That period covered much of its commercial breakthrough and several of its best-known early releases. After ending that relationship, the musicians increasingly worked independently. They later began releasing material through Aviator Music, their own label and creative operation.

The shift gave the members greater control over songwriting, production, videos and live performances. Rather than disappearing after the peak boy-band era of the 2000s, the musicians continued adapting the project to changing listening habits.

Why Did Igor Voievutskyi Leave the Group?

A major change came in June 2018. Igor Voievutskyi, one of the three original frontmen, left the band. The group’s official biography says he departed to pursue a solo project.

After his departure, Andriy Storozh and Dmytro Todoriuk continued as a duo. This meant changing a vocal format that had existed for more than a decade. However, the name and catalogue continued rather than being retired.

The current lineup remains:

Andriy Storozh — lead vocals, keyboards
Dmytro Todoriuk — lead vocals, acoustic guitar

The two musicians have subsequently continued recording, performing and reworking older material.

The Band’s Music Changed After Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 significantly altered the themes appearing in the group’s work. One of its most notable releases from that period was “4.5.0.”, released in June 2022. The phrase “4.5.0.” is used in Ukrainian military slang to indicate that a situation is calm or that everything is okay. The song was written around the experience of a soldier reassuring a loved one while serving during wartime. Apple Music lists the single’s release date as June 13, 2022.

The group subsequently released other songs connected with wartime Ukraine, including “Azov” and “Sontse”. Its official website described “Sontse” as the third contemporary war-related single following “Azov” and “4.5.0.” The development marked a considerable shift from the romantic material that had dominated the first stage of the band’s career.

‘Kraina’ and a Stronger Ukrainian-Language Identity

In 2023, the group released “Kraina” (“Country”), accompanied by a music video connected with Ukraine’s Independence Day. The official site described the track as a declaration of love for the country. The musicians have also increasingly recorded in Ukrainian and revisited older parts of their catalogue. This reflects a wider change in Ukraine’s music industry since 2022, as many performers who previously released substantial amounts of Russian-language material shifted toward Ukrainian-language music. For the group, that transition has allowed older musical themes to coexist with newer songs about national identity and wartime experience.

Charity Concerts and Support for Ukraine

The duo has also used live performances to raise funds. A 2022 Kyiv concert built around the “4.5.0.” programme was organised as a charitable event supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The band later organised a concert-auction featuring both established hits and newer songs including “4.5.0.”, “Azov” and “Kraina”.

According to its official site, proceeds from the auction were intended to support brigades of Ukraine’s National Guard and Armed Forces. This has given the contemporary version of the group a role beyond conventional touring.

Its concerts combine nostalgia for long-time listeners with material reflecting Ukraine’s current reality. Aviator Celebrated 20 Years in 2025 The band reached a major milestone in 2025. Storozh and Todoriuk marked the group’s 20th anniversary with a concert in Kyiv on June 26. The programme included songs from different stages of its career, ranging from older tracks such as “Povertaisya”, “Mania” and “Za vysokymy berezamy” to newer releases including “Lid i vohon”, “Okeany” and “Nehrishni”.

The anniversary demonstrated how much the project had changed. What started as a television-created pop trio in 2005 had become an independent duo performing a catalogue spanning romance, nostalgia, national identity and wartime experience.

Who Are Aviator’s Current Members?

As of the latest information from the group’s official channels, the act continues with its two founding members:

Andriy Storozh

Storozh is a vocalist, musician and songwriter who has been part of the group since its public debut. He has been associated primarily with vocals and keyboards and has also contributed to songwriting.

Dmytro Todoriuk

Todoriuk is the other remaining founding member. He performs vocals and acoustic guitar and has written material for the group, including songs released during the wartime period. Together, the two have maintained the band after Voievutskyi’s departure rather than recruiting a permanent third frontman.

Is Aviator Still Active?

Yes. The group remains active rather than existing only as a legacy act. Its official website continues to identify Storozh and Todoriuk as the current members, while the 20th-anniversary concert in 2025 included both classic songs and newly released music. Streaming services also list more recent singles alongside the older catalogue, including tracks such as “Okeany” and “Nehrishni”.

That makes the story of Aviator (Ukrainian band) less about a 2000s group that disappeared and more about a project that has repeatedly adjusted its identity. Its lineup changed.

Its language evolved. Its lyrical subjects changed dramatically after 2022. But the two remaining founders have kept the project active more than 20 years after its first television appearance.

For listeners discovering aviator through its older romantic tracks, the newer catalogue offers a noticeably different perspective: the same melodic pop foundation, but shaped by the experiences of contemporary Ukraine.