Burnham shows off his guitar skills as he joins Ukrainian troops for Oasis singalong in Kyiv
Burnham, a self-confessed Oasis fan, has often leaned into his Mancunian musical roots throughout his political career
Andy Burnham said music can help “lift spirits” on Ukraine’s front line after being serenaded by soldiers performing an Oasis song during his visit to Kyiv.
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The Prime Minister grinned and applauded as he was treated to a rendition of Some Might Say by the Manchester band.
Serving soldier and musician Ivan Tkalenko performed the track on an electric bandura during a meet-and-greet with Cultural Forces.
Cultural Forces is an organisation which brings music and performances to Ukrainian troops and communities living through Russia’s war.
Burnham was then handed an electric guitar in the back of the group’s tour bus, which travels around the war-torn country.
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The Prime Minister played a Smiths song, before joining Ukrainian troops for an impromptu Oasis singalong.
Burnham, a self-confessed Oasis fan, has often leaned into his Mancunian musical roots throughout his political career.
He previously used Some Might Say in a high-profile campaign video and has publicly performed Wonderwall on occasion.
During his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he also enlisted Liam Gallagher to record announcements for the city’s tram network.
His Kyiv visit is his first official trip as Prime Minister, with Burnham arriving by train on Monday morning and being greeted by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
🚨 WATCH: Andy Burnham plays a Smiths song on the guitar with a soldier in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/CpSyyBO1EK
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The trip began with a wreath-laying ceremony for fallen Ukrainian soldiers, before Burnham co-chaired a meeting of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ - a group of nations allied to Ukraine.
It comes as Britain prepares to hand over blueprints for long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine on the country’s 35th Independence Day.
Burnham has urged allies to “do everything we can” to support Kyiv, warning Vladimir Putin is trying to win through a “campaign of terror” using ballistic missiles against Ukrainian civilians.
The Kremlin has threatened Burnham over the proposed transfer, with Putin claiming Britain is now “taking part in the war on Ukraine’s side”.
Later in the day, Burnham visited a shopping centre destroyed in a Russian attack, where he met residents and stopped for selfies.