Members of U2 performed a surprise show in Ukraine on Sunday, playing in a Kyiv subway station that has been used as a bomb shelter during Russia’s invasion.
With the Edge playing an acoustic guitar, Bono sang “With or Without You,” “Desire,” “Angel of Harlem” and other hits for a crowd reeling from more than two months of war.
“The people in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom; you are fighting for all of us who love freedom,” Bono was quoted as saying by the Irish Times.
He spoke about his native Ireland’s historic struggles with the U.K. and how those countries enjoy peace today.
“We pray that you will enjoy some of that peace soon,” said the multiple Grammy Award-winning artist.
Bono invited one of the soldiers in the audience to join him for a rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” and they replaced the word “me” with “Ukraine” for the rendition.
“It’s some good emotions, that’s all,” a troop in the audience told the Irish Times.
Bono’s show came at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U2 tweeted Sunday.
“President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that’s what we’ve come to do,” the band said, adding the hashtag “StandWithUkraine.”
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