Matushka (song)
"Matushka" is a song by Russian Tatiana Kurtukova, released in 2022 as her debut single. The music and lyrics were written by Peter Andreev. Kurtukova, who was performing under the stage name TAiNA at the time, had originally uploaded the song online in 2018 under its original title, "Pro lyubov".
In 2024, the song gained significant popularity among listeners both in Russia and abroad. It was included on the singer's EP U istoka.
Music video
Two music videos were created for the song "Matushka". In the first, released in 2022, Kurtukova performs the song against a white background, wearing the same outfit throughout. In the 2024 version, the singer appears in traditional costumes representing the peoples of Russia, including Buryats, Kumyks, Nenets, and Russian attire.
Reviews
Dinara Kafiskina of Fontanka.ru described "Matushka" as the leading patriotic hit of early 2024. The newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda referred to the song as a "folk hit" that "brought the nation together". Ilya Voronin of Zvuk Media noted that the song largely embodies the country's current turn toward its roots.
On January 8, 2026, in Kyiv, the Ukrainian police and the SBU identified and held three individuals administratively liable for "petty hooliganism" for singing the songs "Matushka" and "Moskva" by DJ Smash while driving through the city. A video of them performing the songs was posted online, drawing the attention of Ukrainian law enforcement.
Awards
At the Victoria and Muz-TV awards, "Matushka" was recognized as the Song of the Year.