Footage shows patriotic Ukrainian soldiers singing their national anthem around a bomb crater in Kyiv, and a violinist keeping spirits up in an underground shelter as the country comes under more bombardments.
A heartbreaking video of Ukrainian soldiers shows them defying Russian aggressors by singing their national anthem around a crater carved into the road surface in Kyiv.
In a video uploaded yesterday to social media by Ukrainian MP and opposition leader Kira Rudik, soldiers are seen playing drums and wind instruments as the camera zooms in on destroyed and burned buildings.
The group defiantly played on the site of a crater pierced by a Russian missile in Kyiv.
Soldiers stand in front of a destroyed building and sing the national anthem, which is translated into English as “The glory and freedom of Ukraine have not yet perished.”
They sing the national anthem “Ukraine’s glory and freedom have not died yet”, which translates into English as “Ukraine’s glory and freedom have not yet died.”
The song, which is a proud symbol of Ukrainian national identity, dates back to 1864, when composer Mykhailo Verbitsky wrote the music for a patriotic poem by folk hero Pavlo Chubinsky.
It was adopted as the national anthem of Ukraine in June 1917, the first time the country declared its autonomy since the Russian Revolution.
Many people on Twitter were touched by the group’s solemn display of dignity after the suffering inflicted by the Russian military.
Via Legio message: “The angels look down on this brave people and smile joyfully at their formidable spirit. May the dark clouds soon dissipate. The world is waiting to rejoice with them. Freedom will prevail.”
Dominik added: “Thank you, Ukraine, for your courage, your loyalty to your country, your strength in adversity. People around the world are praying for your victory in this fight for democracy and freedom.”
Elsewhere, equally disturbing footage shows the violinist playing a stunning solo while hiding in an underground bomb shelter with his families.
The virtuoso, whose name is unknown, performs the Ukrainian folk song of the 19th century “What a moonlit night” by Mykola Lysenko to the verses of Mikhail Starytsky.
The video has received over 1.5 million views online and left viewers in awe.
Olka wrote online: “War and its cruelty against art. I don’t think anyone doubts who will really win this clash.”
Justicefiend tweeted: “The ability to be reminded of beauty is a phenomenal thing. Bless this woman who, in an effort to save her life, grabbed her violin.
Coeur de la Lionne added: “She reminds us all how much beauty we can lose in her and in the long line of humanity in art. Both are vital, both need protection.
The violinist performed the folk song “What a moonlit night” for Ukrainian families who took refuge underground from Russian missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that “God will not forgive” and Ukraine “will not forget” the massacre of civilians by Russian troops, saying that “judgment day” is coming for them as Moscow was criticized for opening “humanitarian corridors”. for the escape of civilians – with routes leading to Russia itself.
Zelensky, in a nightly address to his compatriots on the Orthodox holiday of Forgiveness Sunday, recalled how a family of four was among eight civilians killed by Russian mortars while trying to escape from the city of Irpen near Kiev yesterday.
“We will not forgive. We won’t forget,” he told listeners.
“We cannot forgive [the deaths of] hundreds and hundreds of victims. Not thousands and thousands of victims,” he added.
“God will not forgive. Not today. Not tomorrow. Never.’
He spoke as Russia said it was opening new “humanitarian corridors” from besieged cities, including Mariupol, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv, starting at 7am UK time today to allow civilians to evacuate – though few expect Putin’s people will observe a temporary truce after two similar corridors went down over the weekend.
Red Cross volunteers working in heavily besieged Mariupol said that on Sunday their workers tried to use one of the “corridors” from Mariupol, only to find mines on it.