Moving footage shows patriotic Ukrainian soldiers playing their national anthem around a bomb crater in Kyiv while a violinist keeps up sp...
Moving footage shows patriotic Ukrainian soldiers playing their national anthem around a bomb crater in Kyiv while a violinist keeps up spirits in an underground shelter as the country comes under fresh bombardment.
The heart-rending video of Ukrainian soldiers shows them defying Russian aggressors with a rendition of their national anthem around a crater bored into a road surface in Kyiv.
The video, uploaded to social media yesterday by Ukrainian Member of Parliament and opposition leader Kira Rudik, sees the soldiers playing drums and brass instruments as the camera pans around to show wrecked and burned out buildings.
The band defiantly played around the site of a crater bored into the ground in Kyiv by a Russian missile
The troops stand in front of a ruined building as they play the national anthem which translates into English as 'Glory and Freedom of Ukraine has not yet Perished'
They play the national anthem, 'Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia', which translates into English as 'Glory and Freedom of Ukraine has not yet Perished'.
The song, which is a proud symbol of Ukrainian national identity, dates back to 1864, when composer Mykhailo Verbytsky set music to accompany a patriotic poem by folk hero Pavlo Chubynsky.
It was adopted as the Ukrainian national anthem in June 1917 when the country first declared its autonomy after the Russian Revolution.
Many people on Twitter were touched by the band's solemn show of dignity in the aftermath of misery brought by the Russian military.
Via Legio posted: ' The Angels look down on that plucky nation and smile with joy at their formidable spirit. May the dark clouds lift soon. The world waits to rejoice with them. Freedom will prevail.'
Dominic added: 'Thank you, Ukraine, for your bravery, your loyalty to your country, your strength in adversity. People across the world are praying for your win in this fight for democracy and freedom.'
Elsewhere, equally stirring footage shows a violinist playing a stunning solo while hiding in an underground bomb shelter with families.
The virtuoso, whose name is not known, plays the Ukrainian 19th Century folk song 'What a Moonlit Night' composed by Mykola Lysenko, with lyrics from a poem by Mykhailo Starytsky.
The video has amassed over 1.5million views online and left viewers in awe.
Olka wrote online: 'War and its brutality versus art. I think no one has any doubts about what is truly victorious in this clash.'
Justicefiend tweeted: 'To be able to be reminded of beauty is a phenomenal thing. Bless this woman who in the fervor of fleeing for her life, grabbed her violin.'
Coeur de la Lionne added: 'She's reminding the rest of us how much beauty we stand to lose in her and in the long line of humanity in art. Both are vital, both need protecting.'
The violinist performed the folk song 'What a Moonlit Night' for Ukrainian families seeking shelter underground from Russian missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed that 'God will not forgive' and Ukraine 'will not forget' the slaughter of civilians by Russian forces, saying a 'day of judgement' is coming for them as Moscow was slammed for opening up 'humanitarian corridors' for civilians to flee - with routes leading into Russia itself.
Zelensky, in a late-night address to his countrymen on the Orthodox Christian holiday of 'Forgiveness Sunday', recalled how a family of four were among eight civilians killed by Russian mortars while trying to flee the city of Irpin - near Kyiv - yesterday.
'We will not forgive. We will not forget,' he told listeners.
'We cannot forgive [the deaths of] the hundreds upon hundreds of victims. Nor the thousands upon thousands who have suffered,' he added.
'God will not forgive. Not today. Not tomorrow. Never.'
He spoke as Russia claimed it is opening new 'humanitarian corridors' out of surrounded cities including Mariupol, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv starting at 7am UK time today in order to allow civilians to evacuate - though few expect Putin's men to observe the temporary truce after two similar corridors failed at the weekend.
Red Cross volunteers working in the heavily besieged city of Mariupol said their workers attempted to use one of the 'corridors' out of Mariupol on Sunday, only to find land mines laid across it.
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