Ukrainian military members performed famous Christmas hits to remind the world of the war and the importance of supporting Ukraine

The Ukrainian soldiers' rendition of world-famous Christmas hits serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing conflict within the country. UNITED24, a collection platform, recently unveiled a video featuring nine military members singing iconic Christmas carols. The heartfelt renditions, accompanied by modified lyrics, reflect the stark reality of war and underscore the crucial need for global support in Ukraine.

Songs with a purpose

The selection of songs, including "Happy Xmas (The War is Over)", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas", underwent lyrical adaptations to emphasize the ongoing struggle. In the soldiers' rendition of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas," the lyrics were subtly altered to convey a resounding “no” after the phrase “the war is over”.

Notably, the classic "I'll Be Home for Christmas," originally written for a World War II soldier and popularized by Frank Sinatra, took on a poignant transformation.

The line "I'll be home this Christmas" was modified to a somber "I won't be home this Christmas", underscoring the soldiers' sacrifice and separation from their loved ones.

The accompanying film was shot in a dugout facing Bakhmut, set against the backdrop of Lyman's community center and railway station, both devastated by Russian occupation. Additionally, scenes featured the remains of schools and a gas station in Kostyantynivka, located just 15 kilometers from the front line.

A message from the soldiers

Yaroslava Gres, coordinator of the UNITED24 platform, expressed the soldiers' intention, stating, "We wanted to congratulate the world on the upcoming Christmas and at the same time remind us that the war in Ukraine continues. The selected songs are true symbols of the holidays. We replaced a few words in each of them. From the mouth of the Ukrainian military, these words sounded so moving, so sincere. Ukraine needs support. And today, and Christmas, and New Year. We believe that the world will feel it again and it will be there."

Talented soldiers with a mission

The soldiers who participated in this unique musical tribute hail from various units, showcasing their diverse talents:

• Guitar and Vocals: Oleksandr Remez, a soldier of the 110th OBrTRO, and Inna Korolenko, a combat nurse from the fire support platoon of the 206th TRO ZSU battalion.
• Bandura and Vocals: Dmytro Romanchuk, a soldier of the 59th Military Police Brigade.
• Pipe: Mykhailo Adamczak, a paramedic of the "Hospitals" battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army and frontman of the "KoraLLi" band.
• Drums: Artur Temczenko, a soldier of the 110th OBrTRO and actor.
• Piano and Vocals: Mykhailo Olijnyk, a soldier of the 59th Military Infantry Brigade, composer, and music producer.
• Saxophone: Dmytro Dudko, a soldier of the 59th OMPBr.
• Vocalists: Iryna Kosovska, combat nurse of the 3rd motorized infantry platoon of the 1st company of the 10th OGSHBr "Edelweiss"; Viktoriya Chudakovska, maid of the 59th OMPBr; and Svitlana Cherednychenko, soloist of the Honorary Academic Demonstration Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"During the holidays, people naturally distance themselves from other people's problems. I would really like this project to let the world know that the war is not over, and we need to get involved as much as possible. The more supporters we have, the more help will come to us and the faster we will move towards victory."
Inna Korolenko, a combat medic from the fire support platoon of the 206th TRO battalion, emphasized the project's significance