Ukraine will create its own Christmas miracle, President Zelenskyy says in defiant message
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Opera Theatre holds underground concert
As the war marked its 10-month anniversary on Christmas eve, the Kyiv Opera Theatre held a concert on an underground stage.
Artists sang Ukrainian versions of Jingle Bell Rock and It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, among other internationally famous holiday songs.
Yevheniya Molchanova, 47, who attended with her daughter and her parents, was delighted by the show and expressed the need for some happiness during the holiday period.
“Despite the war, we want some holidays, some happiness,” she said.
“We need also some positive emotions.”
The concert was held underground for safety reasons and to avoid interruption by the air raid sirens that ring out almost daily in the capital.
The Kyiv Opera Theatre used to hold Christmas concerts around January 7, but changed this year to December 24 and 25.
For director Petro Kachanov the show must go on.
“We are putting on this concert for our audience who should be reminded that eventually, Christmas would come anyway, as will our victory,” he said proudly.
Many of the theatre’s staff come from areas heavily affected by the war.
Yevhen Bichasnyi was set to play the role of Santa in the Christmas Day play for young children, yet he feels he has nothing to celebrate.
His neighbour in his hometown of Kherson was killed only a few days ago, he said.
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