Atlas United: Despite the war, the Ukrainian music festival takes place again

How can you host a music festival for 25,000 people when you are threatened by a possible Russian missile attack?

Vlad Yaremchuk has been trying to find an answer to this question for several months.

He is the program director of Atlas United, the largest music festival in Ukraine.

The event is scheduled to take place this weekend for the first time since Russia’s large-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

However, not everything is going as usual: This year the event was moved to a shopping center due to an air raid.

When Vlad spoke to BBC Newsbeat, Atlas had been pushed back just a week after a series of deadly rocket attacks, including one that hit a children’s hospital.

He admits there was a lot of stress leading up to this year’s event, but is optimistic it can go ahead.

“It will be exciting to finally see people coming to the festival for the first time,” he says.

“We really missed that feeling.”

Since its launch in 2015, the Atlas Festival, held in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, has hosted big names such as Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers and Liam Gallagher.

Organizing a large festival takes time, but Vlad says they only got the green light to hold the event in 2024 this spring.

“Normally it would take a year or more to organize a festival of this size,” he says.

“We didn’t even think we would get the chance to hold a festival while the war was still going on.”

However, he adds: “Reality has shown us that cultural events are possible even in times of war.”

Vlad says Atlas expects about 25,000 fans, crew members and artists to be on site, while other events have seen a maximum of 10,000 people in attendance.

With so many people in one place, there is great concern about a possible air strike.

Vlad says the solution is the brand new venue – two stages built in the parking lot of a Kyiv shopping center.

“It provides us with accommodation for over 100,000 people,” says Vlad.

“There will be more than enough space to evacuate everyone quickly – and we’re talking minutes.”

According to Vlad, it can be a challenge to convince people who are used to the sound of air raid sirens to seek shelter when an alarm goes off.

But he says there is a plan for that too – to move the festival underground.

If the crowd needs to get to safety, Vlad says there is “a whole stage” and a bar so the music can continue.

What will be missing this year are international headliners.

Vlad says they were approached, but most declined due to safety concerns.

He says he understands the decision, but “it really makes me angry when I see musicians playing in Russia right now.”

“It can be frustrating,” he says.

“But if people have honestly thought about it and decided that it’s not for them because they fear for their lives, then that’s fair.”

This means that more local artists will get the chance to fill some of the top spots on the program.

These include Vitalii and Marina from the indie band Disappeared Completely.

“People need a little joy in their lives, even in these difficult times,” says Vitalii.

Marina says: “It’s always nice to get together with people and celebrate life.

“Just remember the joys of everyday life, because tomorrow you may no longer have them.

“Cherish these moments and cherish the people around you while you can.”

They also say that after years of air raids, they are no longer afraid to perform outdoors.

“We’ve gotten used to it. It sounds bad because it’s war and we could die. But life goes on, so we have to adapt,” says Vitalii.

While at first glance a festival offers an opportunity to forget the war for a day, Atlas United reflects Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russia.

The festival hopes to raise at least €2 million (£1.7 million), the majority of which will be spent on drones to help soldiers on the front line.

And some Ukrainian artists who have caused a stir abroad will soon be performing in their home country again.

Solo artist Shmiska, who now lives in Paris, says it is important to return to the festival.

“Sometimes people just lose hope. They lose their dreams,” she says.

“I think as artists it is our job to give people the chance to feel again, to dream again.”

Shmiska performs across Europe and says she fears people are starting to forget Ukraine.

That’s why she wants to make her big show in Kiev unforgettable with light shows and lots of costume changes.

“It’s a great opportunity to feel alive again,” she says.