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Analysis June 2026: How musical institutions have endured in Ukraine five years on

2026-05-29T08:26:00

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The Russo-Ukrainian war is now in its fifth year. How have Ukrainian music institutions adapted to the ongoing situation and the ever-present threat of drone attacks?

Imagine playing a concert and an air-raid alert sounds, giving you just minutes to find shelter from an incoming ballistic missile. Imagine having no heating or lighting for five days in the middle of winter because drone strikes have knocked out the energy grid. Imagine boarding at a specialist music academy and a drone hits outside in the middle of the night, blowing out all the dormitory windows while you’re in bed. Such are the lived experiences for music students in Odesa…

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