鈥淭here is always room for art鈥�
Ukrainian rock star Andriy Khlyvnyuk says 鈥渋t is a part of our lives as crucial as food, sleep鈥�
Andriy Khlyvnyuk - singer in the popular Ukrainian band Boombox - joined the armed forces after Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
He now works on the front line as a drone operator.
When asked on the 大象传媒's HARDtalk programme whether there is a place for "art, for art's sake" during the current conflict, Mr Khlyvnyuk said: 鈥淭here is always room for art - it is a part of our lives as crucial as food, sleep.鈥�
鈥淭he main task in this struggle is not to find yourself similar to your enemy. And if you skip art, skip kindness, skip help; you will find yourself the same as the invader.鈥�
Mr Khlyvnyuk was speaking to the 大象传媒 from London, which he was visiting to perform at a fundraising event for Ukraine. Asked by Stephen Sackur about whether he worried about morale, especially amongst young Ukrainians, Mr Khlyvnyuk said: 鈥淚鈥檓 worried about young singers that will have to learn things I鈥檝e learnt.鈥�
He also voiced his concerns about western support for Ukraine's war effort. 鈥淚鈥檓 very worried that you don鈥檛 see your鈥lose neighbour in me鈥� Because if you do give me all the weapons you would give to your boys to protect you from the evil. And if you won鈥檛 give it to me, then your sons and your brothers and your singers and your writers will become machine gunners and drone pilots like I did.鈥�
