A video uploaded to Twitter by @RichardEngel has been capturing people’s attention as a group of musician play for peace in the middle of a war zone. In an act of defiance in a Kyiv square where the Ukrainian people have, up until now, stopped Moscow’s ambitions in Ukraine, The Kyiv-Classic Symphony Orchestra assembled to perform in front of a small crowd on the 9th March as Russian forces continue to advance on the city.
The video was captioned, “Orchestra playing in Kyiv for peace, and to call for a no-fly-zone to protect Ukrainian cities and people.” Culture is even more important during times of war and the Ukrainian people are showing their resolve in multiple different ways. The orchestra played the Ukrainian national anthem as well as Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, on which the European Union’s anthem is based.
Orchestra playing in Kyiv for peace, and to call for a no-fly-zone to protect Ukrainian cities and people. pic.twitter.com/iYZiD20Bo6
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 9, 2022
In another video, a young Ukrainian girl was filmed singing “Let It Go” from the Oscar-winning movie Frozen. It has taken the internet by storm! Her name is Amelia and she has dreams of singing on the big stage to large audiences.
The video was uploaded by Marta Smekhova to Facebook on the 3rd of March and has racked up over 105k shares in just a few days. The video was captioned with a long heart felt text written by Marta which we have translated into English, “seeing in one of the Kiev bomb storage, how children draw bright pictures in half-darkness, I, of course, couldn’t silently pass by…stopped, praised, offered to do a little exhibition to somehow decorate this not so happy place…painted together – a boy and a girl…the girl turned out to be so friendly, so talkative…”
Marta continued, “She told me that besides drawing, she loves to sing… and whispered shared her dream that she wants to sing on a big stage in front of the audience…so what’s the matter ? – I’m saying, – now we’re organizing… do you see honey how many people are here? that’s what you sing for!!! It’s loud, I won’t be heard, – worried… well, how not to worry? This is the first performance in front of an audience… needless to say worried for nothing.. from the first word in the [bomb shelter] came complete silence… everyone put their business aside and listened to a song by this girl who was just beaming light…”
“even men couldn’t hold back the tears.. Video made with permission of the girl’s mother… promised that many people will see her! Amelia really wanted this.. I showed this video to people in different cities of Ukraine, it was seen by foreigners in different parts of the world! Amelia, your singing left no one indifferent! look, Russians, against whom you are fighting! Only a coward can fight against civilians, take away childhood from defenceless children! You let your children go to the stew, making them into cannon meat… and our children radiate light, and even in a raw dark basement it does not blink, but ignites even brighter! And our children are applauded by the whole world!”
Idina Menzel, who played Frozen character Elsa and sang the original track, posted a message in support: “We see you. We really, really see you.”
In another video, a group of Ukrainian women are singing patriotic songs as they weave camouflage nets to be used by their soldiers on the frontline.
“Unbreakable”
Although their singing is beautiful, there is nothing beautiful about the circumstances in Ukraine currently. Above the women reads a sign written in Ukrainian that translates to “Unbreakable” – a message of Ukrainian bravery and a message they certainly are fulfilling.