Anybody that believes sailors, soldiers and politicians... high & low in the ranks... don't use music to their own advantage... was not paying attention in class.

The Ukraine, as viewed from the East, is the Pale of Settlement. Orthodox Russians feel free to grab whatever they please, wherever and whenever it pleases. Not two shakes different from the French, Germans, Ottomans &c &c &c except the line of travel.

Every season the average dirt farmer is still plowing up nasty sh*t from the last two wars. The best Western folk song ever written, in any alphabet, isn't going to disarm one cluster bomblet or landmine on either side of the present slaughter.

I ask myself, is the above song up to the task at hand? For me, the answer is a solid "No." Your results may vary.