A Ukrainian band ANTYTILA having just come back from foggy Albion to Kyiv are telling of the most prominent events, meetings, and results of a cultural and diplomatic mission.
A demonstration having united more than 10 thousand of concerned people into a loud voice of Ukraine that sounded all across the world
The band symbolically started their mission on February 24, which was 3rd anniversary of full-scale invasion. It was the day when a massive demonstration “Heartbroken but Unbroken” took place having united speeches of British, Canadian, and Ukrainian politicians, leaders of impactful community associations, and allies standing by Ukraine during three years. The ANTYTILA band have played a special hour-long live set – a loud voice of Ukraine sounding all across the world.
Due to joint efforts and initiative of Support Ukraine, namely the leaders of the organization Nataliia Ravliuk and Iryna Rapii, that evening at Trafalgar took place a synergy of more than 20 organizations presenting Ukrainian communities of Great Britain. Due to support of each of them, more than 10 thousands of people united under the motto having been announced from the stage by the soloist of the band Taras Topolia – ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’.
A working session with parliamentarians and state officials: discussing urgent issues instead of general requests
ANTYTILA always emphasize that their performances are more than just music. This mission had had the objective of cultural and diplomatic interaction and boosting international support of Ukraine. That is why the meeting with British parliamentarians was an important part of the trip. In the course of negotiations, they managed to bring the issue of urgency of supporting Ukraine from the Government of Great Britain up to date, discuss, for instance, specific ways of realization of assistance in the area of tactical medicine, rehabilitation of militaries, and supporting the children having lost their parents due to war. Additionally, substantive meetings with deputies on specific topics also took place which are to bring tangible results in perspective.
Another subject for discussions was the experience of SUPERHUMANS having become one more real case that helped to define current requests of Ukrainians. Ukrainian realias were not hidden under general messages – in Taras Topolia’s speech, the current situation in Ukraine sounded via the language of facts and figures.
A special screening of ‘Culture vs War’
A separate point of the program was a dialogue with British students as part of the project ‘Culture vs War’. It wasn’t the first time the band met British and Ukrainian youth to tell the truth about the war and experience the band’s members had gone through being at the frontlines.
Meeting with Valerii Zaluzhnyi and continuing an information campaign
The final event in London was the meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Among the key topics of discussion, there were an unprecedented number of people having gathered at Trafalgar Square and the importance of demonstrating unity in these times. Such specific moments develop a strong position of British politicians on supporting Ukraine both at international negotiations and with their voters inside the country.
And that was the message sounding in an interview ANTYTILA exclusively gave to the British news broadcast service ITV News.
The band wants to thank Support Ukraine, British-Ukrainian Aid Charity Organization, Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Orthodox Church of Ukraine, St. Mary’s Ukrainian Trust, Ukrainian Institute London, Association of Ukrainian Women in Great Britain, Ukrainian Youth Organization in Great Britain, Plast London, Ukrainian Children SOS, Women Fight For UA, Ukrainian Students League, and all the other organizations thanks to which the mission took place.
ANTYTILA express their special gratitude to Inna Yehorova and the whole Embassy of Ukraine in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as to numerous Ukrainian and British community for active support.
ANTYTILA have used their music and experience to bring an important message: Ukraine needs support now, and this struggle is not just for our existence and liberty, but for the future of democratic world.