Mustang Wanted Explained

Mustang Wanted
Birth Name:Pavlo Gennadiyovich Ushivets (Ukrainian: Павло Геннадійович Ушивець, Russian: Павел Геннадьевич Ушивец)
Birth Date:21 January 1987
Birth Place:Kyiv, Ukraine
Citizenship:Ukrainian
Known For:Urban climbing, Internet celebrity

Pavlo Gennadiyovich Ushivets (Ukrainian: Павло Геннадійович Ушивець, Russian: Павел Геннадьевич Ушивец,[1] born 21 January 1987), better known as Mustang Wanted, is a Ukrainian urban climber and Internet celebrity.[2] He is known for the high-altitude stunts he performs around the world with little or no safety equipment.

Biography

Ushivets was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and identifies as Heorhiy (or Grigory). He lives in Kyiv.

In September 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ushivets revealed on Instagram that he was serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a combat role.[3]

Urban climbing

He has climbed Vienna's Votivkirche,[4] Princess Tower in Dubai[5] and Most SNP in Bratislava.[6] On 19–20 August 2014, he climbed Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building, one of the Seven Sisters (a group of skyscrapers in Moscow designed in the Stalinist style), painted the spire in blue and raised the Ukrainian flag on the top of the building. He dedicated the performance to Independence Day of Ukraine (celebrated on 24 August).[7] He suggested online that he was willing to be arrested by Russian police in exchange for the release of Ukrainian pilot Nadya Savchenko,[7] who was captured by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine and abducted to Russia.[8] He received the 2014 Troublemaker Award for this stunt.[9]

In September 2016, Ushivets attended the Toronto Film Festival, where he participated in the announcement of a new film based on his exploits and those of three Russian climbers. The film title is We Kill Death, and it will be produced by Alex Ginzburg and Tony Lee.[10]

In August 2017, Ushivets, during an interview with the Russian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, announced that he will not do any more "provocative stunts" in Russia.[10]

Filmography

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Фигурантам дела о покраске звезды на сталинской высотке присудили компенсацию. Meduza. 2016-07-06.
  2. Web site: Ukrainian Daredevil Climber Admits to Painting the Moscow Star in Ukraine's Colors . Lokot. Tetyana. 22 August 2014 . Global Voices. 24 August 2014.
  3. Web site: Instagram . 2023-09-10 . www.instagram.com.
  4. Web site: 'Roofer' scales Vienna's Votivkirche. 7 August 2014. The Local. 26 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Mustang Wanted - українець, що підняв жовто-блакитний прапор над Москвою. Фото. Відео. 23 August 2014. Ukrayinska Pravda. Ukrainian. 26 August 2014.
  6. Web site: Posledná selfie ukrajinského blázna?! Extrémista sa driapal po bratislavskom moste bez istenia!. Ivanová. Marianna. 6 August 2014. Nový čas. Slovak. 26 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141020113822/http://vas.cas.sk/clanok/10195/posledna-selfie-ukrajinskeho-blazna-extremista-sa-driapal-po-bratislavskom-moste-bez-istenia.html. 20 October 2014. dead.
  7. Web site: 'Mustang Wanted' Claims He Raised Ukrainian Flag Over Moscow . Heil. Andy . 24 August 2014. Radio Free Europe. 24 August 2014.
  8. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28232966 Ukraine conflict: Russia charges pilot over deaths
  9. Web site: Ukrainian Troublemaker Receives $10,000 Award For 'Redecorating' Moscow. Strauss. Karsten. 10 September 2014. Forbes. 19 September 2014.
  10. News: Dmitry Volchek Ron Synovitz. Ukrainian Daredevil Mellows, Won't Return To Russia For More Provocative Stunts. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 23 August 2017.
  11. Web site: 2020-08-11. Mustang Wanted Stars in Klangkarussell's "Netzwerk (Falls Like Rain)" Music Video. 10 May 2014. ballinonabudget.tv.
  12. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/virals/10584338/The-five-scariest-free-climbing-videos.html The five scariest free-climbing videos
  13. http://censor.net.ua/photo_news/305497/avakov_nagradil_rufera_mustanga_imennym_orujiem_i_posovetoval_mvd_rf_berech_tsvet_kremlevskih_zvezd Avakov awarded the roofer Mustang with commemorative arms and advised Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation to safe-keep color of Kremlin stars