Earlier this yr, the members of Jinjer had been among the many many Ukrainian residents affected when Russia determined to invade the Ukraine. And in a brand new interview with Chaoszine, bassist Eugene Abdukhanov relays a horrifying story of when he knew that the warfare had really begun.
The bassist recalled, as transcribed by Blabbermouth, “I met the warfare precisely when it began. On the twenty fourth [of February] at 5 o’clock within the morning, I used to be simply driving and issues round me began exploding. I received straight underneath the shelling, underneath the assault, and I believed, ‘That is the top.’ I used to be attempting to get out of there, driving 180 kilometers on a really slim highway. It was nonetheless darkish. And I noticed issues that I, earlier than that, solely noticed in films — large explosions with all these items flying round. They usually had been falling proper in entrance of me, and I used to be driving round them, and all of the smoke round. It was like an actual horror, however you are part of it.”
He continued, “I used to be on the way in which again to Kyiv, and I used to be simply attempting to get residence as quickly as doable. And I noticed all these site visitors jams — folks had been attempting to get out of the town — and all of the destruction due to the primary assault. After which the primary week was essentially the most horrible time as a result of no person knew what was taking place. I received residence, and one of many first issues which I did, I contacted everybody within the band. We made a put up on social media. And everybody stayed residence.”
He recalled, “Each half an hour, there was a siren. We went to the basement. I went to the basement alone, as a result of I used to be staying alone — I took my household out. I used to be alone, simply sitting, watching the information and going loopy. Then each half an hour, I would go to the basement, then go up, basement, up, spend half of the evening within the basement. And there [were] large explosions throughout. Issues that [weren’t] even shut the primary evening — like, 5 kilometers, ten kilometers away from me. This isn’t shut; in our actuality, this isn’t shut. However [because of] how huge these explosions had been, the land was shaking.”
“The actual horror began to occur,” says the bassist. “And that is mainly when the siege of Kyiv began. And the following very day, I simply felt like stating our place [publicly] and claiming our place. I made that video which is on YouTube. I wasn’t capable of understand issues like that would occur.”
As for returning to the general public eye and taking part in exhibits once more, the bassist states, “Nicely, it has its execs and cons. On the one hand, being onstage for this 45[-minute], 50[-minute] or one-hour [set] is the right remedy for me, and it is the one time I can neglect in regards to the warfare — simply taking part in music and connecting with the group. As a result of all the opposite time, my temper actually goes up and down continuously — it swings forwards and backwards, forwards and backwards. And I’ll really feel completely okay at one level, however after a couple of minutes I am completely depressed — depressed in the way in which that I can barely act. And having the ability to play is unquestionably a remedy.”
Abdukhanov calls the beginning of the warfare “essentially the most horrific instances of my total life,” however provides that the assist has been nice. “I used to be bombarded with texts — all my buddies, who had been simply checking how issues [were] with everybody,” he stated. “I received a bunch of texts from followers from all all over the world. However one way or the other we made it by this.”
As revealed earlier this month, Jinjer revealed that they had been allowed to tour once more, serving as official Ukrainian ambassadors. “We’re very honored to announce that along with the assistance of the Ukrainian Ministry of Tradition, that we have now efficiently been granted permission to journey overseas as ambassadors of our nation to lift funds and consciousness in regards to the warfare raging again residence,” acknowledged the group upon asserting their summer season touring. Presently on tour in Europe, you could find the band’s tour dates and ticketing data right here.
Rock + Steel Bands Serving to Present Help for Ukraine
Amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that started in February 2022, a number of rock and metallic bands got here up with methods to supply tangible assist for affected Ukrainians. See some beneath.
