Today marks 2 years since the start of the war in Ukraine. It’s a painful day for us. I’ve never felt more Ukrainian than I do today. During childhood, we used to speak Russian more than Ukrainian because of the Russification that was spread all around the region. But today, we appreciate the beauty of our language and speak it proudly.

I’ve played the piano for almost 65 years now. It always made me feel alive. I can express myself through it. But today, when I play, it feels different. It doesn’t just make me feel alive; it makes me feel my country, Ukraine. Ever since the war started, I’ve been playing piano in Swiss concerts to share the beauty of our Ukrainian culture, stories from our country, and the pain of our people. The piano has become the music that connects me to my Ukrainian roots. And I will continue to share this Ukrainian side of me with the world.

I am worried about my people back home. My neighbors, my friends, my people... I love how Ukrainians have become united now. Our houses have become everyone’s houses. My home has become a haven for so many soldiers who come to rest, sleep, regain energy, and then go back to defending our country. This is the least we can do. The soldiers haven’t given up, and so we can’t either. I refuse to give up on my spirit. I refuse to sit and do nothing. We are here for a reason. Back home, people are defending the country, and we, in Switzerland and other countries, must show our Ukrainian spirit of freedom and resilience.