Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Sends A Video Message To Fans At Glastonbury Festival

The Glastonbury Festival saw a video message from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky asking for support during the Russian invasion this weekend.

“We will not let Russia’s war stop us,” he told the crowd at The Other Stage before the Libertines began to play. “That is why we turn to you for support. I ask you to share this video with everyone whose freedom is under attack.”

He asked the fans present to push politicians from around the world so that they can help the people of Ukraine who have been forced flee their homes.

After the message, Libertines singer Pete Doherty made the audience chant Zelensky’s name, over the riff to The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”

“The Zelensky thing was quite surreal, I won’t lie,” said his bandmate Carl Barat after they came off stage. “It’s a strange collision, but it made sense.”

The Libertines attracted thousands of fans during their set, which ushers in Glastonbury’s first full day of music. They launched straight into “Up The Bracket,” before playing songs like “Vertigo,” “The Ha Ha Wall” and “Gunga Din.”

“That was pretty mind-blowing,” said Barat. “I feel a little bit stage struck. It was great just to see all those people, and to be the first one as well. I first came here when I was one year old and I’ve been here ever since, through various rights of passage – jumping over the fence with a fiver in your boots, to coming with a band and playing the Pyramid Stage, so Glastonbury’s always had a special place in my heart.”

Several Ukrainian artists played the festival this year, including Kalush Orchestra, which won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.