We would like to share some emails Paul has been sending to the Boomtown Rats. Paul hopes he might be able to log on to COB (he is known as Major Paul) at some point in the coming days. If you would like to leave a message of support and solidarity to Paul and his family I'm sure he would appreciate it.
Hello, it’s Paul again! From the emails I sent to you indirectly. I’m doing as you asked and reaching back to you to tell about my situation. I’m sorry this one is really long, there’s a lot to say. I'm sorry my English isn't great at times, it's not my first language. I wrote my previous letter back in February when the war was just starting out. My family and I were back in Kyiv - my hometown and Ukraine’s capital. So was and still is is a pretty big target for the Russians, which got everyone concerned since the very first day of the invasion. We stayed at home and kept ourselves as safe as we possibly could during the first week. My area was mostly safe from the bombs and the shelling, since my apartment building is pretty far from the city centre. I still had these moments of paralysing fear every time I heard the bomb alarms, and I had to spend a few nights in the cold basement of our apartment building. I was and still am struggling with feeling helpless and like I wasn’t doing enough - while I was doing some community work here and there, I knew that it wasn’t enough because I couldn’t join Territorial Defence like boys my age did. However, after the news broke out about the soldiers quite literally destroying Kharkiv and Irpin (a town about 15 kilometres away from where I live) my family got very scared and concerned about our safety. So we made a collective decision to move to a safer city in western Ukraine until it quiets down in Kyiv. Though I really, really didn’t want to leave my city until the very last moment. My whole life’s here, and I really wasn’t ready to leave it behind. It really hurt seeing my record collection, my guitar, my pet frogs and other stuff for the last time. I didn’t have much time to pack my bag because I was stupid enough to think we wouldn’t have to actually leave. I felt really bad for leaving some of my friends who stayed here (though thankfully they eventually moved as well, or left the country completely. I really hope it’s not permanent because we’re basically scattered all over Europe now). Either way, we had to leave our home on March 3rd and traveled for two days from Kyiv. We had to sleep in various refugee shelters in Vinnytsia before we got to our destination and found a permanent stay in Chernivtsi. I had to sleep on the floor the first few days because another refugee family was living with us and we didn’t have much space, but eventually they moved out and we had the two-room apartment to the five of us (which is me, my brother, my grandmother and my parents). The only thing that’s important is that we’re 600 kilometres away from the shelling and the bombing. We lived rather quietly in the apartment for about a week until the owners evicted us due to a big misunderstanding. We had to quickly pack our bags and leave without having anywhere else to go. Getting somewhere to stay was progressively difficult - people were fleeing the more dangerous parts of Ukraine to come here. For a couple of days we were just going around trying to find somewhere permanent to stay. Eventually a coworker of my father let him know that his friend took the chance to go to Romania and left her apartment for us to live in. We were absolutely ecstatic since we finally got to safety again. We moved in just today and took a while sleeping it off and unpacking - that's why I took so long responding, sorry. Anyhow, I hope this wasn't too long or boring to read. I know my story isn't as exciting now that I'm in safety, right? My family is safe as well, but I'm worried about my friends whose families decided to leave the country. We stay in touch, but it's getting progressively difficult. I was really hoping to see you guys play live during a more peaceful time. Maybe someday... Hoping that you respond soon! Take care, Paul
Dear Major Paul,
Sending love and prayers to you, your family, and all of the citizens of Ukraine.
Наші серця і думки з тобою.
СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ !
Slava Ukraini!
Love and prayers from America.
War, war is stupid and Putin is stupid And love means nothing in some Russian quarters War, war is stupid and Putin is stupid And I heard them banging on hearts and fingers War
People fill the world with narrow confidence Like a child at birth, a man with no defence What's mine's my own, I won't give it to you No matter what you say, no matter what you do
Now we're fighting in our hearts Fighting in the streets Won't somebody help them?
War, war is stupid and Putin is stupid And love means nothing in some Russian quarters War, war is stupid and Putin is stupid And I heard them banging on hearts and fingers War
Man is far behind in the search of something new Like a philistine, we're burning witches too This world of hate must be designed for you It matters what you say, it matters what you do
Now we're fighting in our hearts Fighting in the streets Won't somebody help them?
War, war is stupid and Putin is stupid And love means nothing in some Russian quarters War, war is stupid and people are stupid And I heard them banging on hearts and fingers War, war war
After the bird has flown He walked ten thousand miles back home You can't do that to me, no, you can't do that to me You can't do that to me, no, you can't do that to me
War, war
In this heart of mine, I'll find a place for you For Ukrainians, black or white, for grown-up children too
Now we're fighting in our hearts Fighting in the streets Won't somebody help them?
War, war is stupid and Putin is stupid And love means nothing in some strange quarters War, war is stupid and Putin is stupid And I heard them banging on hearts and fingers
No more war Say no more war Say war I said woah, said no more war, said no more war, said woah Said no more war, I said no more war Senso hant-ai Senso hant-ai Say no more war Say no more, no more war, said no more war Said no more war, said no more war, oh
original song by Culture Club.
Hold on in there. The good times will return. One day we will drink beer and watch the Rats. Take care.
Hi Paul our thoughts are with you and your family and all Ukraine families, we have sent some clothes fleeces etc over with Jacobs well charity
Dear Major Paul,
thank you for sharing these stories.
It makes us see the personal tragedies behind the news stories we see on TV every night.
Thinking of you and your family. Stay safe, love from Holland xxx
Hi Major Paul,
I can only echo what many other citizens have said. I pray for the safety of your family and all the people in Ukraine and although it will take a long time for your country to recover, I hope that the senseless and barbaric acts will stop soon. It's unbelievable that someone should be away to wreak this destruction on so many innocent people in the 21st Century. Best wishes. 🙏
After listening again to I can Make It If You Can I’ve decided to repost it. Thank you for sharing the photos and fine words that accompany them. Very
best wishes to you and your family. As Bob sings ‘we’re gonna make it’
More news from Major Paul
Hi Pete,
I hope my letters aren’t too boring yet. My day has been relatively good. My mum came back from Kyiv last night and my father is elsewhere, so the two of us went volunteering together today. We found a volunteer base at a nearby school, so now I have somewhere to go when I feel like helping. Today I spent a while cutting up fabric and making camouflage nets for Territorial defence, which is a strangely therapeutic process. I’m attaching some pictures of it so you have an idea what it’s like. After that I went grocery shopping and noticed that a lot of the shelves at the supermarket were getting emptier with every day. However, it’s not as bad some people say it is. In my opinion as long as it’s got all the essentials like bread, milk and eggs there’s no reason to panic. But it’s nice to treat yourself with a chocolate once in a while, which is what I did
Reading the news about what’s happening in other cities fills me with rage. What these fascists are doing to Mariupol is simply unforgivable. I’ve been to that city once a long time ago and I remember it very fondly. It makes me even more mad that I’ve seen some people support Putin and his mindless goons. It’s not “denazification”, it’s a genocide of my people. And anyone who opened at least a wikipedia page about my country knows that it has already happened to us not once and not twice.
I really want to believe that all these monstrosities will end soon, and I wish things would go back to normal, even though it’s not how it works… It’s been three weeks since the war has begun, but it feels like it’s been months. It’s almost like time doesn’t make any sense lately.
Sorry to get all existential and stuff. Being stuck in a different town is not very exciting.
Either way, enough of that. How are you? I hope your mixing is going well.
Take care
Paul
My heart goes out to you, your family and, the Ukrainian people. This will go down in history as one of the most barbaric acts by one nation against another. I really hope this stops and Ukraine can begin to recover as soon as possible. If there is a hell, Putin has already booked a one way ticket.
There's not enough words to convey how sorry I am this is happening to your country. The evil behind it needs to be stopped. Hopefully soon you will get to go home. While all over people are complaining about high gas/petrol prices others are worrying about more important matters like lives/homes lost. Some people do not have perspective unless it is happening to them. Sending love and light from Los Angeles.
Dear Paul,you are with us in our thoughts and prayers.We cannot imagine what you and your family and friends are going through but here on this citizens website we do care.I am not sure what we can do but please ask if you need any food,money,clothing etc sent.
I am going to play and dedicate the song "I Can Make It If You Can" to you.Keep believing for a better future.Stay safe.
Much love to you from Australia.
I really hope everything works out for you and your family and that one day you can travel home safely to your country . Our government isn't the best, but the majority of people here support you and your country. Best, Paul
Another excerpt from an email from Paul,
I am really looking forward to the future Rats gigs. I’ve been dreaming of attending the Palladium gig but because of being unvaxxed at the time I couldn’t travel anywhere (talking my mum into allowing me to do so was really hard!) After that I was planning to go to the one at Stone Valley festival in august because I used to go to the UK every summer before the pandemic started. And I’d have time off from uni. But it’s getting very difficult to think about the future, I hope things get easier after the war ends. I’m still very excited to see the band sooner or later.
MAGNUS and TOKI
Ok so this is Magnus and Toki. They are both unfortunately stuck back in Kyiv. As Paul was unable to take them with him. He misses them a lot. However they may not be Rats fans.
Major Paul,
I hope this message finds you well, my thoughts with you and your family, but more important support and actions committed to help, Sharing and donation to trustworthy charities. Cheer up,we stand with you.
3476.
Paul all of our thoughts are with you, your family and the brave people of Ukraine. I can't begin to understand what you are going through but I hope the on-going negotiations will soon lead to a cease fire and a withdrawal of the enemy's forces.
Putin must be made to pay for what he has done but first your country needs to be returned to the people who have so bravely defended it.
Stay
Much love to you. Thank you for sharing. Please stay
Thanks for that information Paul