Musicians Defend Ukraine grew from existing connections within the Ukrainian music scene, and managed to raise over £42,000 in its first two months to buy equipment for those on the frontline – providing everything they can from bandages to drones. Lesik has already received photos of people using the equipment they’ve provided, accompanied by powerful, “really crazy” comments like ‘your aid kit helped me to survive’ and ‘your helmet stopped the bullet’.
While bassist Andrii and drummer Sergii are based in Berlin, vocalist/guitarist Anton and touring keyboardist Lesik live in Ukraine, and had to get express permission from the Ukrainian ministry of culture to exit the country, where men are forbidden to leave in case they are needed to fight. Currently the frontlines are largely made up of people with military experience, which they do not have, so decided to help the only way they knew how: through music.
“If anyone wants to join it’s really easy,” Lesik encourages. “Anyone can record a song and say you’re going to donate the money from digital sales and streaming… or you can play a concert and donate from your concert. And many people through the whole world [have] helped us, from Singapore to Sri Lanka, from Canada to the U.S.”
“Different parts of the world [are] trying to support somehow,” adds Anton. “[You] can sell your records, collect money, organise a show – there’s lots of options available. And for [promoters] you can also just have a Ukrainian band play, because I guess all of the bands who are outside the Ukraine right now are raising money. We have a really big volunteer movement in Ukraine, and in a really horrible time it’s really nice to know and a really warm feeling that everybody cares for each other. And to see how people from Europe and U.S. help us, that’s really important.”