We planned to hold a Cxema event on April 9th. On Monday, February 21, we had our last meeting, where we actively discussed the details of the upcoming event and build the plans. It was supposed to be our return after the pandemic. Our team and our audience have been waiting for it for three years, but we find ourselves forced to postpone our plans once again for an indefinite term.
In the first days of the full-scale invasion, we donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and posted information on our social media to encourage others to follow our example. Soon after, we signed and published an open letter from the Ukrainian music scene, urging to cancel Russia, and shared a list of foundations and initiatives that we trust and believe are important to support to bring our victory closer.
Currently, the whole Cxema team is in Kyiv. The city is slowly, but surely coming back to life, and our loved ones seem to be safe and secure, which certainly cheers us up. There is a lot of work in the so-called Kyiv rear. We must continue to demand stricter sanctions against Russia, ask for arms and humanitarian aid from foreign partners and try our best to help everyone. The east and south of Ukraine are currently either under occupation or under round-the-clock shelling and at the same time, the internally displaced people also need support. As Cxema cannot continue its usual activities, we decided to update our website to promote Ukrainian culture and continue to unite the community – we also want to take this opportunity to thank our friends from all over the world who regularly organise fundraising events for Ukraine.
Slava Lepsheiev, Artistic Director
On the first day of the full-scale war, several missiles hit Kyiv. On the same day, I went to the west of Ukraine with one backpack. I just wanted to be in a safer place, with no certainty of where is better. In the first month, I was unsure if I would be able to return to Kyiv in the following years. I was afraid for my life, the lives of people close to me, and parts of the country and its citizens that the Russian army was actively bombing. But three months later, I returned to Kyiv. As before, the danger of the missiles remains, and an air raid alarm is triggered several times per day. But here, I can meet my friends and the Cxema team, water my houseplants, and have a more efficient time. I have never felt such an urgent need to be in my hometown before. Kyiv is wonderful.
Some male artists voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Now they are at the frontline or defending cities within the Territorial Defence Forces. Female artists have the opportunity to leave the country and continue performing, but many others need to look for another job to live for something. Despite everything, after February 24, the musical community, like the entire society of our country, rallied and became stronger than ever before. I am sure that after the victory, Ukraine will become a country that finally defended its values, culture, freedom and desire to break with everything that our imperialist neighbour imposed for a real long time. Of course, we have a lot to do and restore after the war. But after our victory, I believe we will develop so rapidly, culturally and economically, that in the next 5-10 years, it will be the most exciting place in Europe.
Dima Kovaliov, Producer
The first thing I heard on February 24 was the words of my girlfriend: “The war has begun!” The night before, we had a good evening and these words seemed like some kind of hangover nonsense. On the same day, after the sound of loud explosions, we collected our backpacks and decided to go to the bomb shelter in the subway. I remember how we walked under the loud shots coming from nearby (Hostomel and Bucha are 25 km from my house) and I wasn’t sure if we would return home.
The most important thing that I have learned is appreciating the ordinary beauty of nowness and loved ones. Before that, I always wanted something I didn’t have, to experience new emotions and see new places. But it turned out that the greatest happiness and joy brings me when I am at home; when there is silence and the birds sing outside the window, when I drink coffee and walk down the street without the sound of a siren, when I sleep in a bed, and not on chairs in the basement of the school – and when a loved one is nearby.
I did not want to leave Kyiv until the very end. I had a feeling that I would betray him if I went. But after a while, it became really scary. I understood that I couldn’t do much to help if hostilities broke out in Kyiv and that I would only be a ballast that distracts. I also didn’t want to endanger my girlfriend’s life.
Now we are finally at home, even though Kyiv is still not safe. After the end of the war, I hope that we will not forget all those people thanks to whom this victory has happened and who did their work, no matter what: our military, doctors, rescuers, volunteers, public utility workers, railway workers, drivers, border guards… Also, I want all the necessary assistance to be provided to the affected civilian population as soon as possible so that the infrastructure of the destroyed cities and IDPs’ houses are restored. I want people to not forget all the innocent people killed and maimed by Russia. I really want people to appreciate what they have. So that people remain people, no matter what.
Amina Ahmed, Booking and Communications Manager
The war has been going on for months, but I still can’t believe this is happening to us. During this time, I did not read a single book, did not watch a single movie, and almost stopped going out with friends. But I became acquainted with a Russian saboteur who wandered into our shelter and threatened unarmed people with a gun, learned how the earth detonates from a nearby explosion and found out how it feels when your partner was going as a volunteer to the Territorial Defence Forces and spending a few months in a zone of active hostilities without communication defending our city. I have not yet understood what to do with this experience and why I need it.
I decided to stay in Ukraine — this is my home, and my loved ones are in it. When you are threatened with nuclear or chemical weapons, it’s scary, but it’s even more challenging to look at people’s grief and not be able to do anything about it. It seems that I am more effective in the place for some reason. I noticed that everyone began to get tired of the war. How could we not get tired of it? But I believe that our victory will happen sooner or later. Now it is especially important to take care of ourselves and our families and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and everyone who needs help.