KYIV

THE VIOLIN LADY AND THE DEATH MATCH

By: John Ludden

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Kyiv, begins on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 23rd February 2022. A young lady street violinist is electrifying her audience. Leaving them spellbound. We swiftly go from music and magic to once upon a time back in Nazi occupied Ukraine, the summer of 1942. We tell the story or maybe more of a legend about a football match that took place. The likes never witnessed before or since. It was a contest between Dynamo Kyiv and their German overseers. One where the prize for victory was no medal or trophy. Just death by firing squad. Yet, the Ukrainians of Kyiv still played to win? The following is based on this fascinating, uplifting but ultimately a tragic tale. One shrouded in myth and legend. When eleven men made the choice of death and honour over capitulation, refusing to back down in the face of such overwhelming odds. That rare time when football was actually more important than life and death. Where all that mattered was to win, despite then being forced to pay the ultimate price. We end back in modern day Kyiv, on truly a night when the Violin lady fell silent and the bombs began to fall on Ukraine. Once more.