Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu’s ‘secret lovechild son’ is ‘unmasked as budding popstar known as Sheba who avoided call up’
- Danila Shebunov, 22, goes by the stage name ‘Sheba’ and is budding popstar
- During a conscription call in September he enjoyed a holiday to resort in Turkey
The ‘secret lovechild’ of Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu has been unmasked as a budding popstar who avoided conscription, according to reports.
Danila Shebunov, 22, goes by the stage name ‘Sheba’ and enjoys a life of luxury while promoting his music career.
Sheba is the illegitimate son of Shoigu, 68, and Yelena Shebunova, a flight attendant who was romantically linked to Putin‘s close ally in the 2000s.
He has been criticised in Russia for not being conscripted into the army while others his age have been sent to fight on the front line.
In September, while his father called up 300,000 young Russians for duty, Sheba was posting pictures of a trip to a sunny Turkish resort to his Instagram feed, where he enjoyed getting massages and surfing.
The ‘secret lovechild’ of Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu has been unmasked as budding popstar Danila Shebunov, 22, who goes by the stage name ‘Sheba’
Sheba is the son of Shoigu (pictured on Thursday), 68, and Yelena Shebunova, a flight attendant who was romantically linked to Putin’s close ally in the 2000s
His identity was uncovered by the allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny after an investigation, The Telegraph reported.
Maria Pevchikh, an ally of Alexei Navalny, told The Telegraph: ‘Sheba doesn’t need a military referral. He doesn’t need to run for his life escaping mobilisation.
‘He’s a VIP child. His dad is not going to send him to the front line.’
Shoigu is married with two daughters, but also shares Sheba and another daughter with Yelena.
Sheba has now locked his Instagram account, which shows off his comfortable lifestyle, after his identity was revealed.
The budding singer has released multiple music videos with the aim of breaking into the industry, including ‘Let Me In’.
Meanwhile, just days before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he began to post song covers to TikTok.
Shoigu has been the defence minister since 2012 and is notionally in charge of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He has previously denied reports that he fathered children with the flight attendant.
Shoigu has been Russia’s defence minister since 2012 and is a close ally of Putin (pictured on Wednesday)
The budding singer has released multiple music videos with the aim of breaking into the industry, including ‘Let Me In’
Sheba’s Instagram feed, which he has now locked, gave an insight into his comfortable lifestyle