A bombed-out building in northern Ukraine has been turned into a rave for more than 200 people just months after the region was devastated by the Russian invasion.
Revellers in Yahidne, which was hit hard in the early days of Russian occupation, worked to clean and rebuild their cultural centre as a DJ played nearby.
The daytime "clean-up rave" was organised by young Ukrainians who have been using dance parties to aid the recovery effort.
"Techno parties, especially rave festivals, it was our lifestyle before, when we met with friends and spent time," one of the group's organisers said.
"Last summer, every weekend festivals (were) here in Ukraine, in Kyiv.
"So, we miss it and we want to come back to normal life but our normal life now is volunteering."
Shovels in hand, the volunteers tossed piles of debris into the loader of a tractor from the remnants of the centre, which was destroyed by a rocket strike in March.
Ukraine's vibrant club scene was brought to an abrupt halt with the Russian invasion on February 24.
A night-time curfew in the capital Kyiv forced lovers of Ukraine's party culture to combine the fun and freedom of a festival with rebuilding their homes.
Most of the Yahidne volunteers, primarily in their 20s and 30s, came from Kyiv, about two hours' drive away.
Others have come from the western city of Lviv and nearby Chernihiv, while some foreign volunteers have arrived from Portugal, the United States, Germany and elsewhere.
The clean-up was the group's eighth event so far, restoring the centre and 15 homes in the village.
ABC/AP
