World is shocked by the horrors of the war by Russians against Ukraine. Sometimes by the time this article is published the war might have ended. But as of now, things are appalling, because it is reported more than 200 Ukrainian civilians and 4,000 Russian soldiers have been killed by the attacks. The destruction to the high rise buildings, apartments and homes are immense, and the damage done to the environment might have been difficult to recover. Ultimately, devastation for the civilization is unimaginable which is more upsetting. In this backdrop, not only world leaders, but also world celebrities started to speak out against this brutal war by Vladimir Putin, not by the Russian people.
Here are some of the comments by international celebrities:
All of us stand with people of Ukraine - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
“Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same.”
This statement is quoted from the Archewell website.
Don’t stand by while a big kid beats up a little kid - American writer Stephen King
Stephen King reacted to the situation, “What most of us learned as kids on the playground: You don’t stand by while a big kid beats up a little kid. You might take a punch or two making the big kid stop, but that’s the right thing to do.”
Stop tripping about power - The Grammy winning rapper Cardi B
The Grammy award-winning rapper, Cardi B, has criticised world leaders for focussing on the wrong issues. The rapper spoke on the issued when a fan asked her what she “thinks about this whole Russia thing.” Cardi responded to the user saying, “Wish these world leaders stop tripping about power and really think about who’s really getting affected (citizens) besides the whole world is in a crisis. War, sanctions, invasions should be the last thing these leaders should worry about.”
The situation in Ukraine is terrifying - Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra
Bollywood actress Priyanka wrote on her Instagram , “The situation unfolding in Ukraine is terrifying. Innocent people living in fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones, while trying to navigate the uncertainty of the immediate future. It’s difficult to comprehend how in the modern world this could escalate to such a catastrophic point, but this is a consequential moment that will reverberate around the world.’’
Sending love and good prayers to all innocents - Golden Globe-winning actor Mark Ruffalo
Golden Globe-winning actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted like this: “Sending love and good prayers to all innocent people of Ukraine and Russia and Europe who are caught up in this sad and corrosive moment of asymmetrical violence and destruction, especially the young people. You have done nothing to deserve this perversion and obscene spectacle.”
This thug doesn’t think world has guts to stop him - Former Britain presenter Piers Morgan
Former Good Morning Britain presenter Morgan wrote, “This is an act of war by a bully-boy thug who doesn’t think the rest of the world has the guts or will to stop him... Shameful.”
Heartbreaking waking up - American singer Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus, who filmed her 2019 music video for “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” in Ukraine, wrote on Twitter: “This morning was heartbreaking waking up to the news that Ukraine had been invaded.
“I had the most incredible experience filming ‘Nothing Breaks Like A Heart’ in Kyiv and will be forever grateful to the local community who welcomed me with open arms.”
“My heart breaks”- American actor and musician Jared Leto
Jared Leto, an American actor and musician, also tweeted out a message for his friends and family in Ukraine. Sharing a group picture, he wrote, ‘’To my friends and family in Ukraine - my heart breaks that this conflict has escalated in such a devastating way. Please take great care and be as safe as you can. Sending thoughts to you and your loved ones during this chaotic and disruptive time.’’
Notion of ‘war’ to be unacceptable repugnant barbarism - Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox
On Instagram, Annie Lennox, Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist, wrote: “What kind of ‘price’ must ordinary people pay for the nightmarish madness and brutality of ‘invasion’ and ‘warfare’? Or is this just an elaborate hoax? A scare tactic? A threat?”
“Apologies for this dark reflection, but I’ve had the privilege of living in a ‘peaceful’ context since I was born – a decade after the end of WW2 – 67 years in total. I don’t take this for granted in any way and therefore find the notion of ‘war’ to be unacceptable repugnant barbarism.”
There were, and still are, real Nazis in the world - Moscow-born singer Regina Spektor
Moscow-born Grammy-nominated singer Regina Spektor wrote an Instagram post condemning Putin’s actions and “the horrors of war”. Alongside a picture of a younger Spektor, taken in erstwhile USSR on the “day WWII ended for us”, the 42-year-old wrote: “There were, and still are, real Nazis in the world.
But in Ukraine that are just millions of civilians being pulled into a war, and in Russia there are children being sent to fight and die for no reason other than the bottomless and horror filled “more more more more more more more” of politicians and corporations. And it’s terrifying…”
Ukrainians, please forgive me - Russian actress Irina Starshenbaum
Amid escalating tensions between the two countries, Russian actress Irina Starshenbaum reacted to the situation by sharing a black post on her Instagram account, “How did we get to that point? Why, then, do we remember every May 9 how much pain and loss the war brought us? I don’t want to believe that. We didn’t choose that.’’
More mourns by Russians
Among the Russian artistes who mourn over the war in Ukraine, TV presenter Ivan Urgant wrote in Russian in his Instagram post with a black square: “Fear and pain. NO WAR.”
Russian comedian Maxim Galkin, who is married to revered musician Alla Pugacheva, also posted a black square on his Instagram account, as he questioned the conflict: “I’ve been talking to friends and relatives from Ukraine since early morning! I can’t find the words to say what I feel! How can this be possible! There can be no justification for war! No to war!”
Former competitive figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva shared a message on her Instagram Story that read: “I hope this all ends as soon as possible, like a bad dream.”
Meanwhile, singer Valery Meladze shared his take on the escalating conflict in a video posted on his Instagram account on Thursday: “Today something happened that could and should never have happened,” he said.
“History will judge everything one day. Now I want to beg you to stop military action and sit down to negotiate.”
Joining the Russian voices, Ukrainian-born pop star Svetlana Loboda posted an image of a face superimposed over a field, with the blue and yellow background depicting the Ukrainian flag. “My heart is breaking,” she wrote.
“Since five in the morning I have been in touch with my family and friends. Well, how is this possible! Lord stop it all. I’m just crying.”