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Royal Marines take their music to Kyiv to bolster solidarity with Ukraine
2 July 2026
Royal Marines Band treated Ukraine’s wounded warriors to the finest military music – and some Beatles – when they visited the war-torn country.
The musicians were invited to join a Ukrainian Army Band on a short morale-raising tour, including performing for recuperating troops in a hospital.
A group of eight musicians from the Plymouth Band were transported – with instruments – to a rainy Kyiv to show solidarity with their Ukrainian counterparts and underscore Britain’s ongoing support for the country in its bitter struggle against Russian tyranny.
The Royal Marines performed at various venues around the Ukrainian capital, including a bagpipe tune on a metro station escalator, in the basement of a public building which serves as a shelter against air attack, and in a very wet Mykhailivska Square – the historic heart of Kyiv and a symbol of defiance against the invader as it is filled with wrecked Russian military equipment – to the applause of passing Kyivans.
Their audiences were treated to everything from sea shanties and naval crowdpleasers, to Bond themes and traditional Ukrainian songs, as well as the two nations’ anthems.
And there was a combined rendition of Hey Jude in an undisclosed hospital which proved to be particularly popular.
“When our patients and staff saw the band, they realised that the powerful hand of Britain is nearby, that we are not alone in our struggle and we are marching towards victory together,” said medic Oleksandr Yarosh.
The UK Defence Attache to Kyiv, Commodore David Teasdale, was among the audience.
He described the band’s tour of Ukraine as a “manifestation of admiration for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
“Despite the fact that only eight members of the band were able to come over this time, they managed to put on a wonderful programme such as British sea shanties.
“But the best moment was the joint performance of both bands combined, playing the National Anthems of Ukraine and the UK – as well as music by The Beatles. Both bands blended together harmoniously.”