In a solemn ceremony at a snow-covered cemetery, an honor guard fired three gunshots into the air, followed by soldiers presenting a Ukrainian flag to the family from the coffin of a fallen soldier. The mood was further sombered as a trumpet, accompanied by a drum, played a farewell tune. After a Ukrainian rendition of “taps,” the musicians from the military band withdrew slowly, allowing the mourners to grieve.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky in a recent interview, Ukraine has suffered greatly since Russia’s full-scale invasion began three years ago, with at least 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed and over 350,000 wounded. These figures, however, are believed to be underestimates.
The Russian Army has been aggressive over the past year, continuously capturing Ukrainian territory and taking the lives of many Ukrainian soldiers. It is amidst this backdrop that the band of the 101st Separate Guard Brigade of the General Staff carries out their missions.
Pvt. Lev Remenev, a songwriter in civilian life who joined the army but ended up in the 101st Separate Guard band, expressed the importance of their service: “We treat every funeral like it’s our most important concert, as we are saying farewell to those because of whom we are still here.” Their mission is dual-fold; to acknowledge the unbearable toll of the war and keep up the spirits of those continuing the fight.
The band supports soldiers and civilians through uplifting concerts in various settings, but most frequently, they play a version of taps to honor their fallen comrades. Transitioning from somber funeral performances to uplifting concerts can be challenging, and Major Oleksandr Holub, the band’s conductor, points out that soldiers are the hardest audience to entertain.
Holub recalls a particularly affecting funeral, where they played taps for a young soldier they had previously played at his wedding. The emotional toll of these performances is significant, with many musicians experiencing a mix of gratitude, grief, and pain.
Despite the difficulties, the band perseveres, understanding the importance of their role in maintaining morale. Pvt. Oleksiy Prykhodko, who has been performing in the band for five years, emphasized the importance of their music as a ritual, even in the face of tragic circumstances such as power cuts during funerals due to Russian attacks.
In these trying times, the musicians continue to play a crucial role in both honoring the fallen and supporting those who continue to fight, serving as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle and the hope for eventual victory.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/world/europe/ukraine-funeral-orchestra.html
