Russian Instruments of War Artfully Repurposed by Ukrainian Musicians

Since the start of Russia’s lethal attack on Ukraine (a war that has killed or wounded 500,000 people), the resilience, grit, and heart of the Ukrainian people have offered a steady beacon of light and hope for a better future in an otherwise dark time.

Now, this new campaign to support German nonprofit ArtHelps from agency Jung von Matt amplifies this resilience and showcases the unique talent and inventiveness of the Ukrainian people movingly and memorably.

The centerpiece of the “Resistruments” campaign features Ukrainian youth playing the instruments crafted from the repurposed weapons created out of ‘war scrap’. The repurposed instruments of war, include a violin made from a missile warhead, a cello crafted from parts of a carrier rocket, and a guitar with a body fashioned from a fuel canister used to refuel Russian tanks.

Andreas Brunsch, Managing Creative Director at Jung von Matt, said, “Considering that these instruments were previously fired by the Russian army onto the homes and cities of these young people, one can only hope that the initiative helps inform and inspire.”

The video directed by Samuel Ramm includes a moving composition by Yury Revich, an internationally acclaimed Austrian-Russian soloist who has played with renowned orchestras worldwide.

The project receives prominent support from Irish singer/songwriter Rae Garvey, an ambassador for ArtHelps, who said, “We must not lose an entire generation of creatives to this war.”

To support ArtHelps and commemorate this profound musical moment, you can purchase a poster of the violin or guitar.