On August 24, 2024, we sat down with the Ukrainian band 1914 at Kulturewerk Herford, Germany. Known for their powerful blend of blackened death metal and First World War history, the band has built an international reputation by telling stories from one of the darkest chapters in European history. Yet today, the realities they face extend far beyond the battlefields they sing about.

Having just completed an exhausting 1,300-kilometer journey from France, the members of 1914 spoke candidly about life on tour, the challenges of maintaining family ties during wartime, and the impact of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. What began as a conversation about music quickly evolved into a broader discussion about resilience, historical memory, national identity, and the daily realities faced by millions of Ukrainians.

From volunteer networks supporting the war effort to the evolution of drone warfare, from the overlooked history of the Eastern Front in the First World War to the struggles of building a metal scene in a country shaped by Soviet rule and economic hardship, the interview offers a rare and personal perspective from musicians whose lives have been profoundly affected by history—both past and present.

This is not only the story of a band. It is the story of artists navigating an uncertain world while refusing to stop creating, performing, and telling the stories that matter.

Life on the Road

You look exhausted. How has the tour been so far?

1914: We are tired as hell. Yesterday we drove around 1,300 kilometers from France. It took us roughly 22 hours on the road. We arrived, slept a little, and now we’re here.

In the past, our guitarist owned the van and drove us himself. The problem was that after a long journey he had to go straight on stage. It was exhausting and dangerous. Eventually we decided to hire a professional driver. It costs more, but it’s much safer and allows us to focus on performing.

Family During Wartime

How is your family doing in Ukraine?

1914: My parents still live in my hometown in Ukraine. Like most Ukrainians, they live with air raid alarms and uncertainty, but they’re doing okay.

My daughter has been living in Ljubljana, Slovenia, for more than two years. When the full-scale invasion began, I put her in a car and got her out of Ukraine as quickly as possible. We visit each other whenever possible, but it’s difficult being separated.

Of course, I miss her every day, but knowing she’s safe, in school, and living a normal life is more important.

Today there are millions of Ukrainians living abroad. The problem is that many may never return. Ukraine already had a relatively small population, and losing millions of people creates huge long-term challenges.

The War Started Before 2022

Many people in Western Europe think the war started in 2022. How do Ukrainians see it?

1914: For us, this war started in 2014.

The full-scale invasion began in 2022, but Russia invaded Ukraine ten years ago when it annexed Crimea and occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk.

At the time, most of Europe didn’t pay much attention. Many people viewed it as a regional conflict. We often compare it to Europe in the late 1930s.

When Nazi Germany annexed Austria, many countries remained silent. Then came Czechoslovakia. Then Poland. Only when France was invaded did everyone realize the scale of the threat.

We believe something similar happened with Ukraine. The warning signs were there, but many politicians chose not to see them.

Ukraine’s Role in European Security

Some people argue that Ukraine is defending more than just its own territory.

1914: Absolutely.

A professor from an American university once said that today’s Ukraine is what Czechoslovakia could have been in 1938 if it had resisted and received support.

Ukraine resisted.

If Russia had conquered Ukraine quickly, it would have gained access to Ukrainian industry, technology, infrastructure, and manpower. The security situation for Europe would be much worse today.

We are stopping them now, but Europe has gained valuable time because Ukrainians chose to fight.

Living Under the Nuclear Threat

Do people in Europe understand how serious the threat feels in Ukraine?

1914: Not really.

In Ukraine, every apartment building has information posters explaining what to do during chemical attacks, missile strikes, and nuclear incidents.

Many families keep emergency supplies at home: food, water, medicine, radios, batteries, and power banks.

People in Western Europe often see the war through newspaper articles. For us, it’s daily reality.

We have lived with the possibility of escalation for years.

Volunteers and Civilian Support

How important are volunteers in supporting Ukraine’s defense?

1914: They are absolutely essential.

Ukraine currently has over a million people serving in various military roles. The government provides a lot, but volunteers fill enormous gaps.

People raise money for vehicles, drones, helmets, armor, medical supplies, communication equipment, and much more.

Many of us are involved personally.

Some of our families buy vehicles abroad and deliver them to military units. Others organize fundraising campaigns or purchase drones.

If you’re not on the front line, many Ukrainians feel you should be helping somehow.

The Rise of Drone Warfare

Ukraine is often associated with modern drone warfare. How did that develop?

1914: A lot of it started through volunteers and improvisation.

People began experimenting with commercially available drones. At first they were used for observation. Then people started adapting them for military purposes.

Eventually governments and military institutions realized how effective they could be.

Today Ukraine has dedicated drone units and specialized formations. It’s something new in military history.

Whether that’s good or bad is another question, but it’s reality.

Ukrainian Independence and Historical Memory

Is there a connection between the First World War and Ukrainian independence?

1914: Definitely.

During and after the First World War, many Ukrainians served in the Austro-Hungarian Army. Later they formed Ukrainian military units that fought for an independent Ukraine.

Many people don’t realize that Ukrainians fought not only against the Russian Empire but later against the Bolsheviks as well.

For centuries much of our history has been defined by struggles against Russian domination.

The Ukrainian Metal Scene

What is the current state of the Ukrainian metal scene?

1914: Honestly, it has always been difficult.

Ukraine has produced internationally respected bands like Drudkh, Nokturnal Mortum, Jinjer, Stoned Jesus, Ignea, and a few others.

But compared to countries like Germany, Poland, or the Netherlands, our scene is tiny.

One reason is historical.

Western Europe had decades to develop rock, punk, and metal culture. Meanwhile Ukraine spent much of the twentieth century behind the Iron Curtain.

While people in the West were buying Black Sabbath records and building underground scenes, we were living under Soviet control.

That delayed the development of alternative music culture enormously.

Music and Economic Reality

How does the economy affect music culture in Ukraine?

1914: A lot.

For many Ukrainians, buying a vinyl record is a luxury.

A record that costs €25 may represent a week’s worth of food for some people.

My mother worked for 35 years as a pediatric specialist. Her pension is roughly €135 per month.

My father worked his entire life in medicine and still has to work because his pension isn’t enough.

This is the reality for many Ukrainians.

When basic living costs are difficult, collecting records and supporting underground music becomes secondary.

Balancing Music, Work, and War

What do you do outside the band?

1914: My original education is in law. I worked as a lawyer for some time, but eventually moved into marketing.

Today I’m a Chief Marketing Officer in an IT company.

That job allows me to support my parents, my daughter, and continue making music.

People sometimes think touring musicians live glamorous lives. For Ukrainian musicians it’s very different.

We work regular jobs, support our families, deal with war, navigate complicated border regulations, and somehow still manage to make music.

We have to work ten times harder than many Western European bands just to reach the same stage.

But we keep going because the music matters and because the message matters.

Final Thoughts

What would you like people in Europe to understand about Ukraine?

1914: That this isn’t just a news story.

It’s our daily life.

People are raising families during air raids. Musicians are touring while friends are fighting at the front. Volunteers are buying vehicles and medical supplies every week.

Ukraine is still standing because millions of ordinary people refuse to give up.

That’s the story we want people to remember.