Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, delivered a video message at the start of the Glastonbury Festival.
In a pre-recorded message, Mr. Zelensky requested assistance during the ongoing Russian invasion.
He addressed the audience at The Other Stage prior to the Libertines’ performance, saying, “We will not allow Russia’s conflict to stop us.”
By exerting “pressure on politicians” around the world, he urged festival attendees to “assist Ukrainians who are forced to evacuate their homes.”
Later, over the riff to The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army, singer and guitarist Pete Doherty of the Libertines led the crowd in a chant of Zelensky’s name.
The Libertines opened Glastonbury’s first full day of music with a mid-morning show that drew thousands of spectators. Up The Bracket was the first song they played, followed by Vertigo, The Ha Ha Wall, and Gunga Din.
Fans were crowdsurfing and setting off pyrotechnics by the time they performed Can’t Stand Me Now and What Became of the Likely Lads.
Following two years of COVID-related cancellations, The Libertines were the first act to perform on one of the festival’s main stages in 2019.
The Chemical Brothers’ cancellation due to Tom Rowlands’ illness, however, shows that the virus is still having an impact this year.
Just three days after being revealed as a last-minute addition to DJ in the Arcadia region, the dance pair withdrew on Friday.
The Damned also declined to perform as the Avalon Stage’s headlining act earlier this week due to COVID.
Meanwhile, Mel C sang Spice Up Your Life with Blossoms during their show on Friday.
Sam Fender, Phoebe Bridgers, and Billie Eilish, who will be performing on the main stage, are also in the Friday lineup.
After their flight from Los Angeles was cancelled on Wednesday night, the rock band Wolf Alice made a last-minute run to the event.
They ultimately made it to London by boarding a connecting flight from Seattle after asking followers to lend them a private plane.
This year’s festival is anticipated to feature a number of Ukrainian performers, including Kalush Orchestra, the May 2018 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.
