Surrounded by the bombed buildings of his hometown, cellist Denys Karachevtsev takes to the street to perform music of Johann Sebastian Bach. 

Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv has experienced relentless bombardment by Russian forces since the invasion began on February 24, 2022. 

“I love my heroic city which is now struggling to survive the war,” wrote Karachevtsev in the note accompanying the clip. “I believe we can restore and rebuild our city and our country when the war is over.” 

Performing the bleakest in set of Six Cello Suites, the somber and mournful prelude to the Cello Suite no 5 in C minor resounds through the silent city.