Ukrainian soldiers fresh from front lines bring music to LA
When in February of 2022 Russian troops invaded Ukraine, thousands signed up as volunteers with the military. Among them were many artists. A group of them is now touring the United States. The music they play ranges from classical violin and opera to traditional Ukrainian folk and American country. They staged more than 150 free concerts as a sign of gratitude for the support Ukraine receives from the US in its fight for freedom.
On a stage in Culver City, a soldier dressed in a combat uniform plays the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument. Taras Solyar joined the Ukrainian military shortly after Russia’s invasion and became a member of the so-called Cultural Forces. That’s a team of more than 80 active-duty Ukrainian soldiers who are also world-class artists: musicians, poets, writers, and puppeteers.
Usually, they perform on the front lines, but one group of musicians has been touring in the United States, from the East Coast, across the country, and recently to California, where they stopped to perform in Culver City.