Vitaliy Kirichenko Raises ₴20K for Armed Forces at Charity Concert in Odesa

Serviceman and frontman of the band "Numer 482" Vitaliy Kirichenko gave a charity concert in Odesa.

The event, which took place on February 25, was attended by an Intent correspondent.

At the concert, dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kirichenko performed his main hit "Good Morning, Ukraine!", which caused a real sensation among the audience.

During the event, valuable lots were raffled off, with proceeds going to help the military. Among the prizes were:

• a branded watch signed by the band's members;
• Ukrainian Alphabet collection in four volumes signed by the author;
• a bottle of Massandra vintage 2011 wine.

The charity event raised almost 20 thousand hryvnias.

By the way, an exclusive video from the concert is available for viewing by community members on Patreon.

Intent talked to Vitaliy Kirichenko about culture, nation, Ukrainian Odesa and contemporary music. In a long interview, he told us how he worked as a machine gunner, how he was the first to play rock in Ukrainian in Odesa, and most importantly, what Uncle Kolya was wrong about and why it was good.

We lived in Chubaivka on Avdeev-Chornomorsky Street. We had a neighbor, Uncle Kolya Panasov, and my father was patriotic and always supported Ukraine. We spoke Ukrainian in our family. This was our position, because we were Ukrainians. Uncle Kolya used to say: "They will never speak Ukrainian in Odesa." I haven't seen Uncle Kolya for a long time, but I want to tell him that I am walking around Odesa now and I hear Ukrainian.

People are just talking, people answer me - in institutions they answer in Ukrainian. Odessans honor their defenders, the military. And everyone wants to live. I think most Odessans want to live in a free Ukrainian Odesa.

Photo: Intent.

Ірина Глухова