Chinese opera singer Wang Fang is singing the old Soviet military song ‘Katyusa’ at Ukraine’s Mariupul Theater, which was devastated by Russian military bombing last year. Telegram video capture
A video of a Chinese opera singer singing “Katyusha,” a former Soviet folk song and military song, has been released, sparking diplomatic controversy at the Mariupol Theater in Ukraine, which was left in ruins after more than 600 people were killed in a Russian bombing raid last year. The Chinese singer is said to be part of a group of Chinese bloggers who visited Russian-occupied Ukraine.
According to the Kieu Post and CNN on the 8th (local time), a video was filmed of Wang Fang, a Chinese woman who identified herself as an ‘opera singer’, singing ‘Katyusha’ at the Mariupol Theater, which was in ruins due to shelling by the Russian army. Controversy arose as it became known through social networking services (SNS).
Petro Andryushenko, an advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, Ukraine, shared the video on his Telegram channel and said, “The Russians brought the ‘famous’ Chinese singer Wang Fang to Mariupol and he sang the song ‘Katyusha’ amidst the ruins of the theater.” He pointed out, “I hope that the souls of the more than 600 Mariupol residents killed by the Russian army will love this work so much that it will torment her with fear for the rest of her life.”
‘Katyusha’ is a former Soviet folk song that became popular during World War II, and contains a call to defend the homeland. It was also used as a military song by the Red Army.
The Mariupol Theater, where Wang Fang sang ‘Katyusha’, is a symbol of the war crimes committed by the Russian military after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine last year.
On March 16 last year, the Russian military indiscriminately bombed the Mariupol theater where hundreds of civilians, including children, were taking refuge during the occupation of Mariupol, resulting in a disaster in which about 600 people died.
In particular, in front of this theater, there was a large sign with the word ‘Children’ (дети) written in Russian to indicate that children were taking refuge, but the Russian military fired artillery fire, sparking public outrage around the world.
A view of the Mariupol theater destroyed by Russian bombing in March last year. More than 600 civilians sheltering in this theater at the time of the shelling were killed. AP Yonhap News A theater in Mariupol, Ukraine, where more than 600 people were killed by Russian artillery fire in March last year. In front of the theater, there was a large sign that said ‘Children’ (дети) in Russian to indicate that children were sheltering in front of the theater. Reuters Yonhap News
The incident is growing into a diplomatic controversy. When it became known that a Chinese party, including Wang Fang, had visited Mariupol, the Ukrainian government criticized the visit as “illegal entry” and demanded an explanation from China.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said, “Singing ‘Katyusa’ in the ruins of the Mariupol Theater, where more than 600 innocent people were killed, is a complete moral corruption,” adding, “Their entry itself is illegal, and this is in accordance with Ukrainian law regulating border crossings by foreigners.” “It is a serious violation of the law,” he pointed out.
“The Ukrainian government wants the Chinese government to explain the purpose of the Chinese people’s visit to Mariupol and how they entered the temporarily occupied Ukrainian city,” he demanded.
The Chinese government has so far not commented on the incident. Wang Fang, a party to the controversy, also did not make a statement.
However, Wang Fang’s husband said on Weibo, a Chinese social media site, “I applaud my wife’s strength, courage, and determination.” “Russian soldiers and Ukrainian residents have been working hard to resist various attacks by Ukrainian troops and NATO mercenaries, so local residents were deeply inspired by this song,” he claimed.
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2023-09-09 02:44:00
