In all, 32,608.45 euros were collected for the support of Ukraine from event ticket revenues and audience donations. A convoy with the necessary goods for citizens and soldiers has just been seen off on its way to Ukraine, and the delivery of other aid is currently being organized.
This was pianist Andrejs Osokins' fourth Freedom Festival, for the second year dedicated to Ukraine and its people as Russia's devastating war there continues. This year the Festival took place in Riga and Valmiera, providing a diverse program of events, including concerts, master classes, discussions, meetings of musicians with Ukrainian families, charity actions and other events.
World-renowned Latvian and Ukrainian musicians, actors, artists and professionals from other fields performed in the Festival, including Labvēlīgais Tips, Melo-M, Ralfs Eilands, Katrīna Gupalo, Georgijs Osokins, Kremerata Lettonica, Sonora Vaice, Ieva Parša, Edgars Ošleja, Platons Buravickis, Gundars Āboliņš, Dita Lūriņa, Laura Čaupale, Ģirts Krūmiņš, Quadra piano quartet, Kristīne Garklāva, Kristīne Rudzinska, Mārtiņš Daugulis, and Andrejs Osokins himself.
With themoney raised funds, two all-terrain vehicles, a drone, thermal imagers, protective glasses, protective gloves, backpacks, meal kits and food for Ukrainian soldiers, hygiene products for Ukrainians, feed, medicines and various things for pets in a shelter in Dnipro “Pegas” for wild and injured animals have been purchased and have already been delivered to Ukraine.
Soon, technical equipment and other goods urgently needed by Ukrainians and soldiers will also be brought to Ukraine, delivering them to military hospitals, rehabilitation centres and other places.
“When we started this charity campaign, we couldn't imagine how powerful it would be and how many people would join it! It is important and solemn for us every time a convoy goes to Ukraine with purchased things for the soldiers and citizens of Ukraine, and we are really proud of the people of Latvia, who have so selflessly supported Ukraine for a year and a half. Every donation saves lives and helps those who are hardest hit by the war caused by Russian aggression. I believe that every donation, every action in support of Ukraine brings closer its victory, which will also be the victory of the whole of Europe over the evil." said Andrejs Osokins.
Since the beginning of the war, more than 210,000 euros have been donated to Ukraine in various donation campaigns initiated by Andrejs Osokins. During the last two Osokins Freedom Festivals dedicated to Ukraine, a total of 53,250.12 euros were donated to support Ukraine, while more than 160,000 euros were donated in the donation campaigns implemented by Andrejs Osokins on the portal Ziedot.lv, where funds are collected for meal kits and self-heating meals, providing an opportunity to deliver 24,000 self-heating meals and more than 5,000 meal kits to the front in Ukraine since October 2022. You can donate to the meal kits at the link here.
