PREVIEW

A group formed by active-duty military personnel and veterans of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, have performed outside the historic White Tower at the Tower of London.

The Cultural Forces of Ukraine ensemble, which originally came together while recovering from battle injuries, shared their personal stories and the therapeutic benefits of music with British soldiers, offering a glimpse into how the art has helped to lift spirits and provide moments of respite amid the horrors of war.

The group is currently in the UK as part of a cultural liaison tour facilitated by the British Council. They recently had the opportunity to meet with British Army soldiers during rehearsals for the Military Musical Spectacular concert, which will run over three nights this week at Horse Guards Parade.

The group is made up of Yurii Ivaskevych, Taras Stoliart, and Olha Rukavishnikova.

Ivaskevych is a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a soloist with the Zaporizhzhia Philharmonic. He enlisted with the 110th Brigade of the Zaporizhzhia Territorial Defence Forces in the early stages of the full-scale Russian invasion. During the 2023 counteroffensive operation, Ivaskevych sustained severe injuries and lost part of his leg. After multiple surgeries and an extended period of rehabilitation, he returned to active duty for another year before retiring in 2025.

Stoliart, also a veteran of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, is a distinguished professional bandura player and soloist with Ukraine’s National Academic Folk Instruments Orchestra. Honoured as a People's Artist of Ukraine, Stoliart joined the 112th Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces on 24 February 2022, the day the Russian invasion began. He fought in several key battles, including the defence of Kyiv, the siege of Bakhmut, and the fight for the Serebryansky Forest in the Donetsk region. After his retirement in 2025, he remains an advocate for the role of music in healing.

Rukavishnikova is a Private First Class in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a graduate of the National Academy of Music of Ukraine. A laureate of several international competitions in both violin and symphonic conducting, she is also a black belt in Kyokushinkai karate. On 24 February 2022, Rukavishnikova joined the 112th Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces as a grenadier. During combat operations in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, she was wounded several times and tragically lost an eye. Despite the injuries, Rukavishnikova returned to active duty following rehabilitation and continues to serve with dedication.

The Cultural Forces Ukraine group’s visit to the UK highlights the profound bond between music and military service, offering both physical and psychological healing. Through their performances and shared experiences, they continue to inspire soldiers on both sides of the conflict, reminding them of the strength to be found in the arts amidst the devastation of war.

Also present were Capt. Mykolai Sierga, who acted as Host and Speaker, and Yeoman Gaoler John Donald.