California metalcore band Silent Planet pulled off something almost no Western act has attempted in years this weekend, taking the stage in war-torn Ukraine for a pair of historic shows. The politically charged progressive metalcore outfit closed out their European and UK run with concerts in Kyiv and Lviv, becoming one of the rare few international artists to perform in the country since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Most touring acts have steered clear of Ukraine since the war began, given the obvious security risks of playing in an active conflict zone. Silent Planet chose a different path, booking two Ukrainian dates to wrap up their month-long trek and framing the move as a statement of solidarity. When the shows were announced, the band said they wanted to “celebrate the spirit of resistance in the face of tyranny.”
The connection runs deep. Back in July 2025, Silent Planet released their track “Wick” alongside a fundraising campaign for Return of Childhood, a charity supporting Ukrainian children affected by the ongoing Russian invasion. The band had also previously launched a line of merchandise featuring Ukrainian symbolism, with proceeds going toward refugee aid.
The group played their first Ukrainian set on June 20 at Atlas in the capital, Kyiv, before heading west to close their European tour on June 21 at !FESTrepublic in Lviv. Fan-filmed footage from the Kyiv show quickly began circulating online, capturing a night that clearly meant a great deal to both the band and the crowd.
Silent Planet shared a heartfelt personal reflection on the Kyiv experience through the social media.
“Last night we had the honor of singing with the beautiful people of Kyiv. After the show, we were informed that we are the first American band to come since the horrific Russian invasion began in 2022.”
“After the show we met people who have lost their homes, families, and even limbs. Yet these people aren’t merely surviving – they somehow thrive in the face of annihilation, and meeting them has forever changed our lives. Their joy is proof that the war machine will falter and the human spirit will live on long after the bombs and tanks are ground to dust and become fuel for sunflowers.”
“I will never forget meeting Michael, who lost his leg in the war but still managed to go so hard in the pit that his wheelchair fell apart.”
“During the show we took a minute of silence for those who lost their lives during this war… and just thinking about it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The unity we’ve experienced here is unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetime as a band.”
“The fight for Ukrainian freedom is the fight for human freedom. And we will make sure to come back to this place that has forever changed us. Thank you, Kyiv. Now it’s time to take the stage in Lyiv. Lovers Forever”
The Ukrainian shows capped a European run that generated plenty of attention for the band. Just days earlier, on June 18, Russell had a bizarre brush with the surreal when a rogue drone crashed directly into his head during a festival set in Warsaw, Poland, becoming tangled in his hair before he wrestled it free, smashed it on stage, and tossed the pieces into the crowd. He later noted the dark irony that the mishap happened moments after the band performed a song about mass surveillance — and that they were, at that very moment, driving toward Ukraine.
Earlier in the trek, Silent Planet made headlines for their principles off stage too. During a June 9 stop in Milan, Italy, where they opened for The Plot In You, the band refused to accept what they called predatory vendor fees on their own merchandise, instead throwing free shirts into the audience and offering an online discount code rather than lose money at the venue’s booth.
