Ukrainian society continues to live a full life at war despite the challenges citizens face. Find out more about entertainment and cultural activities during martial law in Ukraine

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The full-scale invasion of russia has had a huge impact on the lives of Ukrainians, including the show business industry. Some of the country's residents have completely forgotten the last time they went to the theater or a concert. We are going to tell you how the culture and entertainment industry in Ukraine works during the war.

How has show business in Ukraine been affected by the russian invasion?

It's worth noting that the full-scale war has led to an increase in patriotic sentiment in society. This affected the work of Ukrainian artists, musicians and writers. They began to create works dedicated to the defense of the homeland, the heroism of the military and the victims of the war. This became part of Ukraine's national identity.

At the beginning of the Russian aggression, many entertainment venues, such as cinemas, theaters, and nightclubs, stopped functioning. The streets of the cities were engulfed in silence and fear. Leaving the house, one could see a few working shops and coffee shops.

A few months later, the culture and entertainment industry began to recover from the "blow" that could not be compared even to the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, concerts and other entertainment events were held on a voluntary basis to help the Ukrainian army and citizens affected by the aggression of Putin's army.

For example, many may recall how in April 2022, the famous Ukrainian singer Svyatoslav Vakarchuk organized a concert at one of the underground stations of the Kyiv metro. At the time, the station was full of people hiding from Russian shelling. The charity event at the Zoloti Vorota metro station was called "And everything will be fine."

This is not the only case when Ukrainian pop stars have tried to raise the spirits of citizens of a warring country in a similar way. In order to support the Ukrainian military and their families, many musicians have organized and continue to organize charity concerts, dedicating their songs to the war. Such events have become rare, but those that have been reincarnated are often organized as charity events.

How do cinemas and theaters work in Ukraine after a year of war?

After 14 months of martial law, the cultural industry in Ukraine is gradually recovering. As part of the war, events are organized exclusively in cities and regions that are safe for citizens. 

As early as May 2022, a number of cinemas and theaters resumed operations in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. At the same time, we should not forget that Russia continues to terrorize civilians with missile attacks. Therefore, when an air alert is announced, theaters stop screenings and ask the audience to go to the shelter. In case of prolonged alerts, the screening does not resume: people are invited to watch the movie or performance next time.

Overall, the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on the culture and entertainment industry. Despite all the difficulties, Ukrainian artists, musicians, and other creative personalities continue to work and create works that reflect national identity and patriotism. At the same time, the war has led to many people losing their jobs and places of residence, and the film and television industry has undergone significant changes.

Russian aggression has also led to a change in the usual forms of entertainment. For example, some people started spending more time at home because of the danger of going to public places. This has led to an increase in the popularity of online entertainment, such as streaming, online concerts, and online cinemas.

At the same time, it is worth noting that life in cities where there is no fighting continues to be a mess. On the streets of Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, you can see many people spending their time in gastronomic establishments and parks. This is yet another proof that the Russian dictator's plans to sow panic among Ukrainian society have not been realized. 

We remind you! There are 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ukraine, including St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, ancient Chersonese and ancient beech forests in the Carpathians. Find out what other cultural heritage sites you can see in Ukraine here.

Photo: Manzovitova

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