Ukraine's War Veterans Find Healing in Electronic Dance Music
For the wounded soldiers of Ukraine, finding comfort in the midst of chaos is no easy feat. Three-and-a-half years into Russia's full-scale invasion, the sounds of war still linger, but for some, music has become a beacon of hope and healing.
In Kyiv, where iconic clubs have transformed into frontline fundraisers and bomb shelters, electronic dance music remains an integral part of many Ukrainian lives. At the Superhumans centre in Lviv, a rehabilitation facility that provides prosthetics and reconstructive surgery to critically wounded soldiers, music therapy is an essential component of their treatment plan.
EnterDJ, a programme established by the charity Victory Beats, teaches veterans how to DJ using laptops and headphones. The students are encouraged to find their own unique style, with access to a catalogue of donated tracks from around the world. Roman Cherkas, who lost both his lower limbs in a mortar strike, has become completely absorbed by music, saying it provides him with energy and helps him cope with phantom pains and depression.
Oleksandr, another veteran who underwent extensive surgery and rehabilitation, found solace in DJing during his daily routine. "Music is my remedy," he says. His story highlights the profound impact of EnterDJ on its students, who often struggle to find meaning and purpose after their injuries.
As one student, Roman Cherkas, put it, "If I go two days without listening or playing, that's when the phantom pains, bad thoughts, and even depression start." Music has become a way for him to channel his emotions and find comfort in the midst of trauma.
The success of EnterDJ is not limited to its students but also extends to children and adults across Ukraine. The programme's creators emphasize its broader power, highlighting its ability to promote socialization and positive mood among participants.
For Superhumans' CEO Olga Rudneva, the program's impact goes beyond individual healing: "Positive healing effects for patients; reduced phantom pain; positive mood and more socialisation."
As Andreas Boesch, partnership curator at EnterDJ, notes, music is an international language that can transcend borders and stereotypes. "It's an effective way to connect people and destroy propaganda," he says.
In a country where war and trauma are an all-too-familiar reality, music has become a powerful tool for healing and hope. For the veterans of Ukraine, finding solace in electronic dance music is more than just a coping mechanism – it's a lifeline that helps them rebuild their lives and find purpose after unimaginable loss.
For the wounded soldiers of Ukraine, finding comfort in the midst of chaos is no easy feat. Three-and-a-half years into Russia's full-scale invasion, the sounds of war still linger, but for some, music has become a beacon of hope and healing.
In Kyiv, where iconic clubs have transformed into frontline fundraisers and bomb shelters, electronic dance music remains an integral part of many Ukrainian lives. At the Superhumans centre in Lviv, a rehabilitation facility that provides prosthetics and reconstructive surgery to critically wounded soldiers, music therapy is an essential component of their treatment plan.
EnterDJ, a programme established by the charity Victory Beats, teaches veterans how to DJ using laptops and headphones. The students are encouraged to find their own unique style, with access to a catalogue of donated tracks from around the world. Roman Cherkas, who lost both his lower limbs in a mortar strike, has become completely absorbed by music, saying it provides him with energy and helps him cope with phantom pains and depression.
Oleksandr, another veteran who underwent extensive surgery and rehabilitation, found solace in DJing during his daily routine. "Music is my remedy," he says. His story highlights the profound impact of EnterDJ on its students, who often struggle to find meaning and purpose after their injuries.
As one student, Roman Cherkas, put it, "If I go two days without listening or playing, that's when the phantom pains, bad thoughts, and even depression start." Music has become a way for him to channel his emotions and find comfort in the midst of trauma.
The success of EnterDJ is not limited to its students but also extends to children and adults across Ukraine. The programme's creators emphasize its broader power, highlighting its ability to promote socialization and positive mood among participants.
For Superhumans' CEO Olga Rudneva, the program's impact goes beyond individual healing: "Positive healing effects for patients; reduced phantom pain; positive mood and more socialisation."
As Andreas Boesch, partnership curator at EnterDJ, notes, music is an international language that can transcend borders and stereotypes. "It's an effective way to connect people and destroy propaganda," he says.
In a country where war and trauma are an all-too-familiar reality, music has become a powerful tool for healing and hope. For the veterans of Ukraine, finding solace in electronic dance music is more than just a coping mechanism – it's a lifeline that helps them rebuild their lives and find purpose after unimaginable loss.
Music is literally saving lives right now 
I'm reading about this amazing program EnterDJ where Ukrainian war veterans are learning to DJ as part of their therapy and it's truly mind-blowing 
These guys are going through so much trauma but music is helping them cope with phantom pains, depression & more 
It just goes to show that music can bring people together & heal emotional wounds in ways we never thought possible 
They're trying to deal with the trauma they went through, not get their dance on. And what's with this idea that music can "destroy propaganda" - like, shouldn't we be focusing on actual policy changes or something? 
. And what about when the music runs out or they're stuck in a creative rut? They're gonna have to find something else to cope, right? I'm not saying it can't help, but let's keep things in perspective 
.
like, i cant even imagine what its like to be wounded in war and then find comfort in making music i wish there was something like this for us here at home too 
maybe we could get some DJs to come and perform at our local charities or something?
djing can b such a great outlet 4 emotions & stress 
especially 4 vets who've seen some crazy stuff 
music's like a universal language, right? 
it helps ppl connect & forget about propaganda for a sec 
anyhoo, i'm all 4 Ukraine 2day 
. And I love how it's bringing people together, breaking down those barriers between veterans and civilians 
. But what really gets me is that we're only talking about this now, when Ukraine's been through all this hell