Defective Ukrainians kept their spirits up on Friday as they hid in underground bunkers as the Russian army advanced through their district.
The group of women was filmed singing in the city of Cherkasy, a city of 270,000 people 120 miles south of Kiev.
They did so as Cherkasy prepared for the upcoming Russian attack, which struck Kiev late Friday and early Saturday.
A video on social media shows women in the basement on Friday night resolutely singing the national anthem while awaiting the attack.
“Ukraine is not yet dead, nor is its glory and freedom,” they sang in their native language, waiting for the bombings and shootings in the safe place they hoped for.
“Luck will still smile on us, Ukrainian brothers.
“Our enemies will die like the dew of the sun,
“And we, brethren, will live happily in our land.
“We will spare neither our souls nor our bodies to gain freedom
“And we will prove that we are brothers of Cossack descent”
A video on social media shows women in the basement on Friday night resolutely singing the national anthem while awaiting the attack.
“Ukraine is not dead yet, nor is its glory and freedom,” the women sang as they waited for the bombings and shootings in what they hoped was a safe place.
The Ukrainian national anthem, written in 1862, is aptly titled “Ukraine is not dead yet.”
Still tied in their winter coats, scarves and knitted hats, the women in the video put benches in the cement bunker lit by flashing fluorescent lights, some holding picnic baskets, others distracted by their cell phones or the packages they brought. A woman comforts a crying child on her lap as the group sings along with the resounding anthem.
In another video, a Ukrainian woman struggles with tears as she sings the anthem as she washes broken glass from the windows of her bombed-out apartment in a trash can. The woman’s apartment building is populated mainly by former Soviet soldiers and border guards.
Soaring music was composed by priest / composer Mikhail Verbitsky in 1863, and Pavlo Chubinski’s patriotic poem was slightly altered when paired.
It gained popularity in the early 1900s, when Ukraine tried to form an independent state from parts of Russia, Poland and Austria-Hungary.
The last lyrics refer to the Cossack people, an ethnic combination of Slavic and Turkish people known for their expert equestrian skills. It is said that the villagers, who oppose public order and seek their freedom in the wild steppes, are said to have fled.
Russian troops are now advancing on Kiev from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, seize an airport and launch paratroopers who will then attack the capital. The goal would be to take over the government and force them to sign a peace treaty that would regain control of the country of Russia or a Russian puppet.
The song speaks to the indomitable spirit of Ukrainians who have chosen to fight the overwhelming force of 190,000 Russian troops stationed on the country’s eastern border.
The province of Cherkasy, located on both sides of the Dnieper River 118 miles south of the capital Kiev, has its share of the war.
Footage of Russian artillery raining down the city and killing a cyclist on the street has been circulating on social media.
A Russian jet was shot down over Zolotonosha in the Cherkasy region and the pilot parachuted safely. Local authorities have asked residents to monitor the pilot, who they say will try to merge with the population.
A child was born in the back of an ambulance in Kiev on Thursday night.
After the news of Mia’s birth spread, she was hailed as a “miracle” and a beacon of hope in Ukraine and Kiev’s darkest times.
The little boy, seen here with his mother, can have no idea of the turmoil around him as the Russian force against Kiev
Elsewhere under the maternity ward in the basement, a baby boy was born away from the chaotic and violent scenes outside.
While Kiev was attacked by Russian forces, a little girl named Mia was finally born in a bomb shelter.
Officer Nicola Shlapak, who came to the woman’s aid when she heard her screams as she gave birth, said she called an ambulance to take them both to a hospital where mother and daughter Mia are resting safely.
The arrival of the little girl was hailed as a miracle, and a woman said, “Your birth is hope in this dark time.”
The amazing delivery was unveiled by Hanna Hopko, chairwoman of the Democracy in Action conference.
“Mia was born in a shelter tonight in a stressful environment – the bombing of Kiev,” she said.
“Her mother is happy after this challenging birth.
“When Putin kills Ukrainians, we call on the mothers of Russia and Belarus to protest Russia’s war in Ukraine. We protect life and humanity. “
More than 50 explosions and heavy machine gun fire have been reported in the Shulyavka district, near the Brest metro station and the zoo, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Photos posted on social media show what they say are explosions in Kiev on Friday night
Ukrainian President Vladimir Greenaddressing the nation from a secret place in the capital, he had a terrible warning about his hostile and defiant people on Friday night.
“Russia will try its best to break our resistance,” he said in a video posted on social media.
“Tonight the enemy will begin to storm us.” We have to resist them! ‘
The United States has offered to evacuate Zelenski and his family, but the president has refused to leave.
He told the country on Thursday night that he was aware that he was the “target number one” for the Russian killers, but he and his family would not leave.