Zelenskyy says, "Slava Ukraini"
In the early stages of Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine, as Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was rumored to have vanished, a falsehood spread by Russian propaganda claiming he had fled the country. Defying these rumors, Zelenskyy appeared in a powerful recorded video. Standing resolutely in front of the presidential building, flanked by his senior advisors, he delivered a simple yet profound message:
“We’re all here,” he affirmed, “defending our independence, our country, and it will stay this way… Glory to Ukraine.”
This display of unwavering courage and resilience deeply moved me, inspiring the creation of a musical piece performed at the April 23rd Opus Project concert at the Center for New Music in San Francisco. The composition draws inspiration from the way President Zelenskyy concludes his speeches, especially on social media, with the stirring phrase, “Slava Ukraini” – “Glory to Ukraine.”
