War in Ukraine – In Ukraine, waves of resistance

– In Ukraine, waves of resistance

From a secret place in the Carpathians, a radio helps the country to keep morale high. Between classifieds for the army and fairy tales for children.

Livia Ermini – La Republica

Posted today at 3:12 p.m.

A resident of Irpin listens to the radio in her shelter, March 12, 2022.

GETTY/MARCUS YAM/LOS ANGELES TIMES

Words and music are their chosen weapons. Bogdan Bolkhovetsky and Roman Davydov found a way to serve Ukraine without necessarily having to pick up a gun. their weapon, Radio Kraina fmone of the nation’s most popular commercial broadcasters, airs daily wartime bulletins set to rock and pop music.

At first the two men spoke only of the Russian advance, then they began relaying announcements for resources and humanitarian aid; today, they tell fairy tales to children and provide advice from psychologists to help the little ones. They have even taken up the playful and light tone specific to the radio, joking about the Russians and declaiming patriotic poems. Renamed Radio Ukrainian National Resistance, the media is a real support for the army and the population. We are not far from the film “Good morning Vietnam” where, in an unforgettable interpretation, Robin Williams maintains the morale of the troops through his microphone.