Watch Bono and the Edge of U2 Perform in a Kyiv Subway Station/Bomb Shelter with Ukrainian Soldiers

U2 is known for its generation-spanning music as much as it the lengths to which Bono and his band mates try to make the world a better place — and this past weekend, he and guitarist The Edge performed an acoustic set at a Kyiv subway-station-turned-bomb-shelter by personal invite of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky:

President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that’s what we’ve come to do. — Bono and The Edge #StandWithUkraine

— U2 (@U2) May 8, 2022

“The people in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you are fighting for all of us who love freedom,” Bono said to the audience, which included a handful of Ukrainian soldiers (some of whom helped sing the Ben E. King classic “Stand By Me”).

“We pray that you will enjoy some of that peace soon,” added Bono.

Bono (U2) and “Antytela” band in Kyiv metro 🇺🇦 #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/C89h2gehZD

— Kristina Berdynskykh (@berdynskykh_k) May 8, 2022

Here’s the performance:

The Irish Times has a more in-depth look at the special Kyiv performance, which also featured appearances from Ukrainian musicians caught up in the military conflict, such as Taras Topolya of the band Antytila.

As reported by the Irish Times:

He also acknowledged Ireland’s own struggles and conflicts and the sometimes troubled relationship it has had with a much larger neighbour to the east, and he expressed hope that Ukraine would be at peace sooner rather than later.

Bono and the Edge’s set list from Kyiv:

“With Or Without You”
“Desire”
“Angel of Harlem”
“Vertigo”
“Stand By Me”