About STÉNKON
Personal Information
STÉNKON is the creative alias of Ukrainian artist Kostiantyn Kuusk. Born on September 16, 1985, in Kremenchuk, in Ukraine’s Poltava region, his life has been anything but ordinary. As a kid, his family spent some time in Germany — his dad was in the military. But everything changed when he was just five years old: a tragic car accident took his father’s life and left Kostiantyn with a spinal injury. He’s been using a wheelchair ever since.
But instead of letting that stop him, he turned pain into purpose. Through years of rehab and grit, he discovered a love for sports — eventually becoming a Ukrainian Master of Sports in swimming. He’s competed in marathons, made a name for himself as a para-athlete, and has stayed deeply involved in public life back home in Kremenchuk.
While his formal education isn’t something he talks about much, one thing’s for sure — he’s always been a self-starter. Photography, storytelling, helping others — that’s the world he moves in. Creative, resilient, and constantly evolving — that’s STÉNKON.
Public Presence
Before diving into music, Kostiantyn Kuusk had already made a name for himself — locally recognized as a para-athlete and activist, often highlighted in the media for pushing to make cities more accessible for people with disabilities. But once he launched his project STÉNKON, his story started making even bigger waves.
We’re talking about an artist in a wheelchair, forced to flee his homeland because of war — who then turned around and started a music career abroad. That kind of journey? Yeah, it caught attention. In June 2025, Ukrainian media covered both his patriotic single and the powerful backstory behind it.
STÉNKON’s not just a musician — he’s a communicator, a motivator, and a voice for his generation. He’s open to interviews in Ukrainian, Polish, or English, and even runs his own podcast, “Ukrainian Vector: Culture, Business, Sports,” where he gets real with guests on everything from pop culture to politics. Music might be his passion, but impact? That’s his mission.
Music Career
After Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Kostiantyn moved to Poland as a refugee. There, he discovered a new side of himself and launched his music project: STÉNKON . The name itself is symbolic: “Sténkon” in Danish means “stone cone” (a symbol of resilience), while “Kuusk” in Estonian means “fir tree.” Both images reflect his personal philosophy — stay strong and keep your shape no matter what . Musically, STÉNKON blends hip-hop/rap with electronic dance music. He experiments with languages — you’ll find Ukrainian, English, and Polish in his tracks. The lyrics are personal, social, and often motivational or protest-themed.
STÉNKON’s debut music releases dropped in 2025. He presented several singles that formed the album “Shlyakh kriz vohon” (Through the Fire) . Some of his most notable tracks from 2025 include:
“Ukraine Free Country!” — a patriotic anthem and emotional tribute to everyone fighting for Ukraine’s freedom. He spent over three months working on it and dropped it on June 4, 2025: “It’s a song about pride, resilience, about us!”
“FK YOU, PUTIN!” — a raw, protest track that speaks for itself
“Ole-olee! Poznań – Lech!” — a high-energy fan song dedicated to the Polish football club Lech Poznań
“Ja nie będę milczeć” (Polish for “I will not be silent”) — a track about standing up for justice
“Imena, shcho holosnishe za zbroiu” (“Names Louder Than Weapons”) — honoring heroes and the power of memory
Other tracks cover personal and philosophical themes — “Life is a Marathon”, “Soul Freestyle”, “Family Values”, “Veritas in Tenebris” etc. All lyrics and music are by STÉNKON, often reflecting his life experience and his drive to motivate listeners .
Activism & Social Stance
Activism is a core part of Kostiantyn’s life. Way before music, he was known for fighting for accessibility and disability rights. In 2015, he founded and led the NGO “On the Wings of Hope of Ukraine,” supporting people with disabilities and pushing for barrier-free city spaces. He publicly criticized officials for poorly designed ramps and advocated for “Nothing for us, without us” — insisting that those with disabilities must be consulted on city planning.
In 2017, he created an interactive accessibility map of Kremenchuk to highlight problematic urban areas. He also launched initiatives like the “Social Wardrobe” to support people in need.
After moving to Poland in 2024, Kostiantyn faced discrimination head-on: 578 employers rejected him after finding out he uses a wheelchair.
In July 2024, he shared a viral Facebook post about this experience, calling for respect and equal opportunity for everyone:
“Let’s fight for our rights and build a society where true European values are real!”
His pain, strength, and determination found voice in the poem “A Ukrainian on the Road of Hope,” which tells the story of a refugee’s journey with dignity.
Through his music project STÉNKON, Kostiantyn turns activism into art — themes of protest and empowerment echo in tracks like “Ja nie będę milczeć” and “F**k You, Putin!”
What He’s Doing Now
As of mid-2025, STÉNKON is focused on releasing new tracks, with recent singles like “Ukraine Free Country!” getting attention . He self-releases all his music through his own label, LCC KUUSK (Lyrical Concept Collective “KUUSK”), and works with European distributors to get his songs everywhere — Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. He’s mainly in the studio and online, doing streams and teasing future projects. In March 2025, he did an exclusive online collab stream with another musician, answering fan questions and sharing creative insights.
So far, there haven’t been any big solo concerts (he’s just starting out!), but with his protest anthems and message of resilience, he’ll likely show up at festivals or charity events soon. Meanwhile, he keeps dropping new tracks and expanding his audience.
Kostiantyn is also a writer: in 2024, he published his autobiography “The Path of Resilience and Triumph” to inspire others . STÉNKON keeps mixing creativity with activism and outreach, making music and projects that send one message: be unbreakable, act bravely, and never give up. His journey is just beginning — and he’s only getting started.
Social Media & Fandom
STÉNKON is active on social media: you’ll find him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), and Telegram . He connects with his followers in different languages, sharing motivational content, personal stories, creative snippets, and encouragement. His “never give up” attitude is central — he often reminds fans to speak up and stand strong. Fans see him not just as an artist but as a role model. His audience is just starting to grow (since the music career is new), but it’s international: Ukrainians, Poles, and people worldwide who found him online. He replies to comments, thanks fans, and involves them in his creative process. His music is on all the major platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.) so it’s easy to listen and share .