Photo Report by Yuliana Romaniv
On July 17, the Ukrainian project Cultural Forces held a moving concert at the AUGB Ukrainian Centre in London. The performers — all active-duty soldiers and war veterans — took to the stage with stories of resilience, loss, and a powerful return to music. The event brought together both Ukrainian and British audiences in a night that blended melody, memory, and unwavering spirit.
The ensemble featured bandurists, opera singers, a violinist, and a poet, many of whom served on the front lines and are now using their art as a form of cultural resistance.
Performers included:
Mykola Serha – host
Taras Stoliar – bandurist, veteran
Mariia Petrovska – bandurist
Olha Rukavyshnikova – violinist
Yurii Ivaskievych – opera singer, veteran
Serhii Ivanchuk – baritone
The program included Ukrainian classical pieces, international works, and creative covers. For many in the audience, it was their first encounter with the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian string instrument with a deeply emotional sound.
The Cultural Forces project has already toured the United States, Belgium, Turkey, Italy, France, and Poland, and recently made a landmark appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, where the artists walked the red carpet and performed alongside Bono and Sting.
