A Ukrainian band, currently fighting as soldiers against the Russian invasion, say organisers of a benefit concert for the country told them they can't play the event remotely as it is being held for a "purely humanitarian purpose".
The Concert for Ukraine will be held in the UK city of Birmingham on Tuesday, featuring artists such as Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Manic Street Preachers, Nile Rodgers and Snow Patrol.
Proceeds from the concert will go to the UK charity group the Disasters Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian appeal, which is providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance to refugees in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
Ukrainian band Antytila had been hoping to play the event remotely from Kyiv, and had made an appeal on social media to Sheeran to be included on the bill of performing artists.
While Sheeran responded on Tik Tok and Instagram, saying he stood with Ukraine and could not wait to check the band's music out, Antytila singer Taras Topolia said organisers told the band they could not play the event due to their military involvement.
"We heard back from the organisers of the benefit concert and we were told no," Topolia said.
"The reason is the concert is a purely humanitarian purpose and we are wearing helmets and holding arms and we are not in context of this concert so they say no and OK we accept this answer.
Topolia said the band was not involved in the military prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Before the war, we [Antytila band members] weren't military, we weren't soldiers so for us it was a totally new stage," he said.
"It is normal for us because it is our land, it is our future, and it is our freedom and we are standing united against the Russians and we know that we will win."
AP
