we discussed the life and death of oleksandr shapoval.stence of the whole nation is in danger. theatres, libraries, schools, colleges, universities, cultural sites. many institutions of historical significance are destroyed. i talked about the years you spent in russia, the network you have built up inside the artistic community. because of your stand and your expectations of others, have you lost in relationships, lost friendships, because of this? yeah, i lost a lot of friendships. and that is very hard, it is very painful. can you tell me about some of the conversations you have had with people you used to regard as friends? when it all started, because it was so hectic and so inexplicable, i thought, ballet dancers and all of us concentrate on ballet, we're so focused from a very early age, we live in a very narrow world, you need to practice, you need to prepare for performances, and that takes your whole attention, so very few of the ballet people that i know are political at all, most of them are just, you know, have a passing by..

grenade launcher, he died on september 12 in a battle near majorsk in donetsk region, what oleksandr shapoval was in his life on stage and on the battlefield, his colleagues, friends and comrades-in-arms told the public that this was the last appearance of oleksandr shapovala on the stage of the national opera of ukraine, his career the artist graduated from the opera carman suite last year, played escamille at the national opera, oleksandr devoted more than 25 years, in 2013, the artist received the title of honored when i was still a student, i always he came to the performances just looking at him. so, on his part, it was unsurpassedly open, sincere and always ready to give everything so that people would be well in front of him . in one farmer's house and at the same time he visits all of us artists and he sasha shapik shapoval taught at the kyiv choreographic college when a full-scale war began he went to the territorial defense and became an artist as a grenade launcher, his comrade roman utsyyev says that at first alexander was afraid that he would not master his specialty, but he lear

a few days ago, oleksandr shapoval, one of ukraine's leading ballet dancers, was killed while servingthe ukrainian army, fighting the russian invasion. art and culture are not immune from the impact of war. my guest today knows that well. alexei ratmansky is a world—renowned choreographer, with roots in both russia and ukraine. once director of the bolshoi ballet in moscow, he is now putting on a special production of giselle with the united ukrainian ballet to show the world ukrainian culture lives on. has ballet become a battleground? thank you very much. it's an honour to be here. we're delighted to have you here. you are here in london because you are mounting this extraordinary set of performances of giselle, performed by ukrainian dancers. how can you go about putting on a performance with ukrainians when their country is at war? that was an extraordinary project. it started in march. i received a call from my friend in holland, she is a principal... former principal ballerina, with het nationale ballet, igone dejongh, and she said, "i have some ukrainian dancers who are refugee

nose of the national academic opera and ballet theater . 47-year-old honored artist of ukraine oleksandr shapovalxote romeo and juliet in total more than 30 parts of the classical national and modern repertoire shapoval was a very versatile artist and could easily transform into any the character was always convincing in his roles , colleagues remember oleksandr as a very talented and charismatic actor who captivates him in his dance performance, it was impossible to take your eyes off him when he appeared on stage after finishing his ballet career a year ago, oleksandr started teaching duet dance at the kyiv state choreographic school on the college's page in the social network, its manager, people's artist of ukraine kateryna kuhar, wrote that every party she had with oleksandr was full of life, according to her, he was an outstanding artist and teacher as an artist and teacher shapaval was respected and appreciated abroad as well. 92-year-old legend of ukrainian and world ballet olena potapova says that for the past 10 years, they spent their summer vacation with oleksandr in japan, there he d

social networks valentyna samchenko and the prima of the national opera kateryna, the cook oleksandr shapovalnade launcher, he volunteered at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. he was released, he went to the armed forces, there he was taught how to use all these weapons, he became a grenade launcher, he wrote that he was there. and just in the last days, he got into real hell, but you can endure it. by the way, there is such a certain stereotype . of our military, yes, people who went to the armed forces of ukraine for the war and, as it were, this was not expected of them, because in their profession, they were, as it were, not designed for it. very often, it is precisely about dancers that they say any dancers, especially ballet dancers, because it is considered what it is delicate art, in fact, you don't understand ballet dancers and ballerinas, and they train very well in the dancers themselves, they just have steel muscles. that's why they are very strong men, that's about it. for example, larisa tarasenko told the focus publication that she is an employee of the national opera,

hero, honored artist of ukraine, soloist of the national academic opera and ballet theater, oleksandr shapoval in battle under majorsky in donetsk region , he was a theater legend and extremely talented and charismatic artist, but he used ballet shoes for military berets and a grenade launcher , tsn correspondent ivan vorobyov talked about his colleague oleksandr shapovala's story, looking at photos of the artist in your native national opera ukraine and the latest photos people remember alexander with him on their smartphones and still can't believe that he's gone. priyma ballerina of the national academic theater of opera and ballet khrystyna shishpor danced with alexander for the first time at the international competition named after serzhalifar when she was only 14, already in two years she remembers priyma continues to dance and sashko her first parts as a soloist of the national opera together they danced dozens of roles toured the whole world this is footage of their last performance together her last oleksandr's performances on the stage of the national opera, i am sad that we did not

oleksandr shapoval performed as a ballet dancer for 28 seasons at the kyiv opera house before volunteering a mortar strike in the east. translation: there is not a single person in the theatre _ who wouldn't love oleksandr. he was a talented artist and an incredibly kind person. he could not not go and defend his family, friends, and all ukrainians. clapping what this is is a combination of grief and pride, notjust of oleksandr�*s accomplishments in the opera house, but because of the cause he died for, and that's the point — ukraine has always known why it is fighting and the price it was willing to pay. it's hard to imagine another escalation in a conflict already full of incomprehensible pain. james waterhouse, bbc news, in kyiv. hundreds of thousands of people injapan have been urged to evacuate their homes, amid warnings of "unprecedented" risks from an approaching storm. a special typhoon warning has been issued, as the south of the country braces for the arrival of what could be the biggest storm in decades there. hundreds of people gathered outside new scotland yard here in london,

oleksandr shapoval performed as a ballet dancer for 28 seasons as the kyiv opera house before volunteeringpping. what this is is a combination of grief and pride, notjust of oleksandr's accomplishments in the opera house, but because of the cause he died for, and that is the point, ukraine has always known why it is fighting and the price it was willing to pay. it is hard to imagine another escalation in a conflict already full of incomprehensible pain. james waterhouse, bbc news, in kyiv. we can speak to a ukrainian military analyst. speaking to us right from capital kyiv. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. how have ukrainian forces managed to call back this territory which for so long was in russian hands? taste territory which for so long was in russian hands?— territory which for so long was in russian hands? we should estimate eve hint russian hands? we should estimate everything speaking _ russian hands? we should estimate everything speaking from _ russian hands? we should estimate everything speaking from the - everything speaking from the strategic operation. ukrainian forces sh