Bono and The Edge perform U2 gig in Kyiv bomb shelter
The Irish rock band members performed a Ukraine-focused version of the Ben E King song ‘Stand by Me’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.U2 band members Bono and the Edge have shown their support for Ukraine by performing in bomb shelter in Kyiv.
According to a post from the band’s official social media, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky invited the Irish rock singer and the lead guitarist to play in his embattled country.
At Khreshchatyk metro station, the duo performed for 40 minutes to a small crowd to show their “solidarity” to Ukraine while the country is being invaded by Russia.
About 100 people, including fans and members of Ukraine’s armed forces in their uniforms, were watching the performance at the station.
Bono and the Edge played an acoustic version of the 1987 U2 song ‘With Or Without You’ while the crowd sang along, videos posted to social media showed.
They also played a version of the Ben E King song ‘Stand By Me’ with Taras Topolia, a Ukrainian singer turned soldier, while substituting the word ‘me’ for ‘Ukraine’.
Between the songs, Bono offered words of support for Ukrainians. He said: “The people in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you are fighting for all of us who love freedom.”
Speaking to Sky News in Kyiv, Bono appeared to reference Russian president Vladimir Putin when he said that the invasion of Ukraine was “one man’s war”, waged since 24 February.
He said: “I think that the people in Russia... younger people know what’s going on. I trust in the younger people in Russia to throw this man out of his office, that is so high and is so low, right now.”
Many underground stations in the capital have been used as bomb shelters while Putin’s forces have failed to capture the city.
At the end of March, Russia withdrew its forces from near the capital to concentrate its forces in the east of the country.
Follow live updates on the Ukraine-Russia conflict here.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments