Singer Lida Lee and Ukrainian serviceman Daniel Salem have officially confirmed a new chapter in their relationship. What the two had long described as a close friendship has now evolved into something more — a romantic partnership they are no longer hiding.
The couple appears together in Lee’s new music video for the song “Skhozi” (“Similar”), where intimacy and tenderness take center stage. Shortly before the release, the artist shared the video’s cover on Instagram with a simple yet telling caption: “No longer friends.”
“This premiere is very special to me,” Lee shared. “For the first time, I’m speaking about my relationship through music. For the first time, I’m admitting that I’m in love. And for the first time, I’m opening my soul so honestly.”
The video captures deeply personal, almost domestic moments from the couple’s life: quiet scenes in their apartment, long-awaited reunions after Salem’s return from the front, and the painful pauses of farewell. Balancing tenderness with the stark reality of war, the clip presents emotions without embellishment — raw, intimate, and real.
Speculation about a possible romance between the singer and the serviceman began circulating in 2023, after Lee ended a five-year relationship with her former partner. That same year, Salem announced his divorce following 17 years of marriage. The former couple shares a daughter, Santa-Luna. According to Salem, difficulties in the marriage had emerged well before Russia’s full-scale invasion, and divorce proceedings were initiated prior to February 24, 2022.
Despite ongoing discussions online, Lee and Salem consistently denied any romantic involvement, emphasizing that they were simply friends.
“During the war, we became incredibly close,” Lee previously said. “Daniel was the first person to support me during a very difficult period. And in turn, we were among the first to help him when he went to the front — including providing protective gear when we were running a volunteer hub.”
Now, however, the pair are no longer leaving room for speculation. Their feelings are out in the open — spoken clearly, without hints or half-tones, and expressed in the language of art.
