The Ukrainian-Estonian ensemble Svjata Vatra (Holy Fire), plays folk music based on traditional songs with a fresh punk attitude – all blown into the 21st century by a shimmering trombone.

Since 2006, the band has been making people dance and breaking down walls by demonstrating the shared musical roots of 23 countries. Performing on festivals Colours of Ostrava, FelSziget, Positivus, Urkult, London IFEM, Kaustinen and Viljandi Folk. Now, they’re ready to take their fiery folk further out into the world. Singel “Pane mind põlema” (Light my Fire) was used on the soundtrack of the US TV series “Seal Team” 2017. The band are alumni of showcase festivals Budapest Ritmo, Tallinn Music Week, Eurosonic, Folk Alliance.

In 2020, the band released a CD “World, You are Changing”. In the production of the album take part three generations of musicians, to point out the importance of the wisdom of grandparents that transfers to children and grandchildren. On the stage, a father now performs together with his daughter – connection of generations and traditions in the music!

Since 2014, Svjata Vatra has been closely involved in political and humanitarian activism to support Ukraine, both in Estonia and internationally. From February 2022, the Trochynskyi family has been personally leading some of the biggest actions in Estonia, including a public support concert for Ukraine and protest against the war (in Tallinn Freedom Square, gathering more than 30 000 protesters) and a national benefit concert that collected 720 000€ in donations for buying ambulance cars to support the efforts of Ukrainian Army Hospitals. Another collaboration with the conductor Kristjan Järvi will result in a concert in Gdansk at the European Solidarity Center on 26 March which will be followed by an international support campaign.

During 2022 Svjata Vatra played more than 40 concerts in 5 countries to support Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave the annual Cultural Award 2022 to Svjata Vatra cultural-award

In February 2023 the band went on a 10-days concert tour in Canada and did 8 concerts in 6 cities.

On Ukraine’s Independence Day, 24 August 2023, Ruslan and Terje Trochynskyi organized a magnificent concert “Ukraine thanks!” on Tallinn’s Freedom Square, featuring Estonian artists, Tallinn Police Orchestra, the Estonian National Male Choir, Svjata Vatra and Ruslana from Ukraine. Live broadcast of the concert was broadcasted on Estonian National Broadcast and seen by 118 000 people. „Ukraine thanks!“ collected donations for building bomb shelters for schools in East Ukraine. Estonian people donated 158 400€. Ruslan and his partner organisation in Ukraine “My City” built by this donation 52 bomb shelters in East Ukraine cities.

In August and September 2024 Svjata Vatra visited Ukraine and performed on the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kiev.

The performance of Svjata Vatra has never been as expressive and moving as now, carrying a message for peace.