On July 19, Finnish rock band THE RASMUS headlined the Atlas Festival in war-torn Ukraine, standing out as the event’s only international act. During their visit, the group also became ambassadors for the Good Donations charity fund. Together with Atlas Festival and Blockbuster Mall (the festival’s venue), they helped raise over 3.5 million hryvnias (around $84,000), which was used to purchase specialized surgical instruments for the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital.
Today (September 26), THE RASMUS released a short documentary, “The Rasmus In Ukraine”, capturing their time in the country. All revenue from YouTube views will be donated to The Good Donations Foundation.
The raised funds were used to purchase state-of-the-art surgical kits from Germany, which have now been delivered to Ukraine and officially handed over to doctors at the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital on September 25. For the medical staff who save children’s lives daily, the reliability and quality of these tools are essential. Although currently on tour promoting their new album Weirdo (Better Noise Music), THE RASMUS joined the ceremony online to personally thank and speak with the doctors.
As Atlas Festival headliners, the band — Lauri Ylönen (vocals), Emppu Suhonen (guitars), Eero Heinonen (bass), and Aki Hakala (drums) — not only performed but also supported charitable efforts, including autograph signings, raffles of exclusive merchandise bundles, and a visit to the hospital. In their message to the doctors, the group expressed deep admiration: “The doctors who work here are real heroes. They continue to provide care even during air raid sirens and rocket attacks. We were deeply impressed by their professionalism. It is crucial that they have equipment that matches their skills, because with the right tools, these doctors can achieve even more”.
The Good Donations Foundation extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the cause, stating: “Together, we were able to give doctors instruments that give children a chance at life and hope to their families”.
The Atlas Festival drew more than 110,000 attendees and featured a robust security system, with plans in place to evacuate both the audience and performers within minutes if needed. Ahead of the event, THE RASMUS frontman Lauri Ylönen admitted: “It’s scary to play in the middle of war, but we want to show our support for the Ukrainian people. We have a massive fan base in Ukraine and we’ve also previously done a joint song with the Ukrainian Eurovision winner Kalush Orchestra”.
