Dutch barrel organ at Russian Embassy in The Hague
As an expression of support to the Ukrainian people a noisy barrel organ played the Ukraine national anthem on repeat in front of the Russian embassy in The Hague.
On Friday the 24th of February 2023 it was exactly one year after Russia launched a large-scale invasion on Ukraine.
With the organ artist Teun Castelein wanted to celebrate that anniversary in an appropriate way.
The ninety-key instrument reached a 120 decibels and played between 8am and 2pm.
For the occasion a one and a half minute short version of the Ukrainian national anthem was put 'on organ book'.
During 6 hours every 90 seconds the anthem repeated. Originally the plan was to play for 12 hours (till 8 pm in the evening) but unfortunately the authorities did not allow that.
Millions of people liked and shared short clips of the organ at the embassy in chat groups and on social media.
But the biggest complement came from countless Ukrainians who felt supported by the performance.
Among them Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of President Zelensky, sharing it on Twitter with the Ukrainian flag.