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Ukrainian band currently fighting Russian invasion in Kyiv ask to join UK fundraising concert

By | Published on Friday 25 March 2022

Antytila

A Ukrainian band has posted a video to social media asking to be included in the Concert For Ukraine being staged by ITV and STV later this month.

The video posted by Antytila addressed Ed Sheeran, who has been confirmed as one of the acts to play the upcoming concert, which will raise monies for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Their message to Sheeran was recorded on the streets of Kyiv where the band members – wearing combat gear in the video – are part of the army fighting against the Russian invasion.

They stated: “Hello Ed, greetings from Kyiv! We are Ukrainian musicians of the Ukrainian band Antytila – one of the most popular Ukrainian bands with a lot of fans in Ukraine and all over the world. In peacetime, our concerts gather at stadiums. The war has changed our lives and now we are fighting with weapons against the Russian occupiers. We thank you, and all the British people, for their support. Believe me, we are grateful, and we will always remember this”.

“Today we learned about your charity concert for Ukraine, which will take place in Birmingham”, they added. “And we offer to make a live broadcast between Kyiv and Birmingham with Antytila temporarily joining the gig remotely. Our band will play our music in Kyiv, a city that has not surrendered and will never surrender to the Russian occupiers”.

“You will play in Birmingham”, they went on. “We are not afraid to play under the bombs. Through music, we want to show the world that Ukraine is strong and unconquered. We will fight and sing for victory in front of the whole world that supports us”.

Responding with his own video, Sheeran first told all Ukrainians “I love you – I stand with you – and I’m so proud to be playing this fundraising event next week” – before addressing Antytila directly by adding: “I can’t wait to check your music out, guys, and I’m sending you lots of love”.



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