Antytila: The Ukrainian band swapping instruments for weapons to defend country

Many of Ukraine’s best known musicians have traded their instruments for weapons, joining the defence of their country.

That includes the popular rock band Antytila.

They regularly sell out stadiums and even featured Volodymyr Zelenskyy in one of their videos.

Last week they asked Ed Sheeran if they could livestream some of their music into his charity Concert for Ukraine in Birmingham – he said yes – but the organisers said because the band members were now in the military, they couldn’t take part.

Earlier we spoke to the lead singer, Taras Topolia, who’s in Kyiv, and asked him what happened.