The People’s Artist revealed the important role the late singer played in her life
People’s Artist of Ukraine Natalia Buchynska candidly spoke about the late musician Lesik Turko. The singer admitted that the artist was her first love and the person who supported her at the very beginning of her creative journey.
The celebrity shared this in an exclusive comment to RBC-Ukraine.
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Even during his lifetime, Lesik, also known as Oleg Turko, promised to write a song for Natalia.
However, according to the star, the musician did not manage to fulfill his promise.
Buchynska says she feels pain over the fact that it never happened.
“He didn’t manage, you see, he didn’t manage. And I am also to blame. Maybe I didn’t insist, I hoped there was still time,” the singer said.
She also sadly recalled the tragic events that occurred during one of her concerts when the artist suddenly fell ill.
Buchynska recounted that doctors fought for his life for a long time.
“I am very sorry that Olesik Turko left so quickly. And then at the concert, when all this happened, I later spoke directly with the doctors because my acquaintances, a family of doctors, had just arrived, and they resuscitated him for 40 minutes near the stage,” the performer remembered.
The artist said that after resuscitation, the musician felt better for a while, could walk and talk independently, but his condition remained serious.
“And then in the hospital, well, fortunately, he recovered, he walked and talked on his own. But it was a complicated rehabilitation because he was brought back from the dead, and especially since the resuscitation period lasted so long,” Natalia said.
In this conversation, Buchynska first admitted that Lesik Turko was not just a colleague or a friend to her.
“Lesik Turko is my first love,” the singer confessed.
According to the artist, she had previously told the musician this, and it came as a surprise to him.
“I told him this. He was unexpectedly pleased and surprised,” Buchynska added.
The singer also recalled that it was Oleg Turko who supported her at the start of her career when she was just taking her first steps on stage.
This specifically refers to her participation in the “Young Galicia” festival.
“I remember he helped me take my first steps. Festival steps. The ‘Young Galicia’ festival. I came as a young girl in 1990. I was just starting. I tried as hard as I could. I fell short in some areas, but he saw some spark in me. And you know, his words were very supportive,” the performer shared.
Natalia Buchynska (photo: instagram.com/nataliabuchynska)
What stuck with Buchynska the most were the words that the future artist said to her back then. She admits that they gave her faith in herself.
“Natalia, even if you didn’t become a laureate in this competition, you know you have everything to become a good artist. You just need to work and believe in yourself,” the artist recalled Turko’s words.
According to her, this support turned out to be decisive, as she was able to win the competition the following year.
“I remembered those words so well that a year later I came back and took first place. So, you see, Lesik Torco played a very important role in my life. He believed in me,” Buchynska said.
In the end, the singer addressed young artists and urged them not to give up on their dreams, even if the path to success proves long.
“So, when young performers, kids, or any artist approach me, I tell them: ‘Believe in yourself, don’t give up. Keep moving forward, work, search.’ There are many stories in the world where a person succeeded not even on the hundredth try but on the 141st, but they succeeded. Never betray your dream. If you don’t betray it, it won’t let you down,” the artist emphasized.
What is known about the death of Lesik Turko
Lesik had serious health problems. In December 2024, the musician suffered a cardiac arrest during a performance at Buchynska’s concert, but doctors managed to save him at that time.
After that, the artist underwent rehabilitation.
However, subsequently, the performer’s condition sharply deteriorated again.
On November 19, he was hospitalized after experiencing a spike in blood pressure and severe abdominal pain. An ambulance was called for the musician, which took him to the hospital.
Unfortunately, after hospitalization, Lesik did not improve. On the contrary, his condition worsened literally every hour.
A few days after being admitted to the medical facility, the artist passed away.
Lesik passed away on November 22. At the time of his death, he was 58 years old.
Even more interesting:
What Lesik Turko’s grave looks like
Lesik’s wife voiced a theory about what he might have been poisoned with
