The bombs fall over Kharkiv – far below the ground there is a music festival – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
The city of Kharkiv has since the start of the war been besieged by Russian forces, and is daily hit by new attacks.
Thousands of the city’s residents have sought refuge at the metro stations.
These were built during the Cold War as shelters, because then feared nuclear war. Many have now lived down at the stations since the start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February.
It has been long days and weeks underground, but on Saturday provided five musicians for a welcome break.
Then they turned one of the city’s largest metro stations into a concert hall.
– The first days of the war there was a silence in me. Then I understood that we must continue to live, for our ideals, for our country and for our future, violinist Tatiana Chukh told AFP.
– Maybe it was the best concert of my life.
The concert took place on the same day as the Kharkiv Music Fest, one of the most prestigious music festivals in Ukraine, would normally start.
– This mini-concert is a symbol that light will overcome darkness, that the truth will prevail over lies, said the festival’s leader Sergiy Politutchy.
He made no secret of the fact that the organization of the concert was complicated, due to the security situation.
– But we made it happen!
Bright spot in a difficult everyday life
Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second largest city, located near the border with Russia in the northeast of the country.
Russian attacks on the city have been going on since the beginning of the war. The damage is enormous.
Ukrainian authorities have reported hundreds of civilians killed. Around a thousand buildings are to be destroyed.
This week, however, several bright spots have emerged from the increasingly ruined city.
The children, who with their parents seek refuge at one of the city’s metro stations, got a pleasant surprise.
Three people dressed as Spiderman, Batman and a pink can provide entertainment and activities down in the otherwise slightly exciting underground.
Videos of the professional cellist Denys Karachevtsev have also been published. They show the musician playing in front of a building damaged in attack.
– It was an idea, to be of help to my people, my country and my hometown. I love this city, its inhabitants. “Whatever I can do to help, I will do,” Karachevtsev told AFP.
– People say that the videos bring a little normality back to their lives. It is important at this time.
Will not trust Russia’s statements
On Friday, the Russian army said it had achieved its goals and would concentrate on a “complete liberation” of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
– The combat potential of Ukraine’s armed forces has been significantly reduced, allowing us to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of the Donbas, said Chief of Staff of the Russian Army Sergei Rudskoy.
Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday that they could not trust the statement of the Russian army. This is because Russia continues to attack and surround the population of cities such as Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol. It writes the news agency AP.