When A Song Became a Weapon – Ukrainians’ Protests in Britain, 1971
5/15/2026
Imagine this: spring 1971, Great Britain. Concert halls are packed with audiences; on stage is the song and dance ensemble of the Kyiv Military District.
But outside the halls, the atmosphere is completely different. Pickets. Leaflets. Slogans. And even arrests.
For many British people, this came as a complete surprise: why were Ukrainian emigrants protesting en masse against what appeared to be a cultural event? Answers began to emerge in the British press. And later – in declassified documents from the archives of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
Thank you to the Ukrainian-Danish Youth House for their support in recording this podcast.