Andriï Kharlamov, baritone of the mythical Odessa opera, learns to handle weapons and fills sandbags, while Inga Kordynovska, lawyer, supervises the distribution of aid to thousands of people, in a converted food hall: in Ukraine, the war turns destinies upside down.
Near the historic heart of the city, on the outskirts scarred by dams and horses of frise, the food hall, transformed into a center for humanitarian assistance, finds its primary vocation for the time of a concert.
Under the imposing vault of this old theater, Andriï Kharlamov and another singer of the opera of the great port on the Black Sea, accompanied by an accordionist, interpret traditional Ukrainian airs in front of the volunteers of the center in fluorescent orange vests, young mostly women.
“We bring as much joy as we can,” says the 33-year-old baritone. “People work hard, with patriotism and selflessness, but they are tested, so we come to cheer them up for a few minutes.”
When the three artists sing, the fist on the chest, the Ukrainian national anthem, the eyes of one of the volunteers fog up.
She goes to isolate herself to hide her tears in a corner of the hall, near a photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky next to which one can read one of his recent declarations, written in marker on a piece of cardboard: “The nation is not for sale”.
“I followed the preparatory training for the army and first aid,” said Andriï Kharlamov, who says he is ready to fight but still hopes not to come to that.
– “Save our lives” –
Throughout the day, the building resounds with the sound of duct tape from boxes packed by volunteers. They contain food of all kinds, but also hygiene products, medicines, or even underwear.
The center supplies both the troops, in particular territorial defence, in which many civilian volunteers, displaced persons and isolated elderly people have been involved since the Russian invasion, explains Inga Kordynovska, 30, lawyer and initiator of the project.
“We prepare the food, we give it to restaurants who cook it and with them we feed almost 5,000 people a day,” she explains.
In addition, the center provides provisions for 500 to 600 people a day: “preserves, biscuits, chocolate, bread…”, lists the young lawyer.
It has nearly 300 volunteers from all walks of life, “with different social statuses, ages and mentalities”, welcomes Inga Kordynovska. “But we all have one goal in common: to stop this war, save our homes and our lives, and protect those we love, until victory.”
The war has also driven a wedge between the population of Odessa, overwhelmingly Russian-speaking, and Russia.
“I have cut off all contact with my fellow Russian singers since 2014”, the year Crimea was annexed by Moscow, says Andriï Kharlamov, winner of the Antonin Dvorak International Singing Competition in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. “They support the war and Russian aggression,” he said, “so we have nothing to say to each other.”