Nadiya Balych; Credit: Kateryna Mostova

KOLO, a Luxembourg-based social impact marketing agency, has announced the release of a new song on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian artist and long-time cultural activist in Luxembourg and Belgium, Nadiya Balych, has released her first solo piece, "One Day". The song highlights the challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in Luxembourg and across Europe, while offering a message of hope: "One day, you will be yourself again and you will see that nothing dies inside you."

As of mid-January 2026, there were around 4,000 Ukrainian refugees in Luxembourg (Statista, 2026). KOLO noted that, according to research, 26% of Ukrainian refugee women have faced abuse during their refugee experience: 15% experienced sexual violence, 7.1% physical violence and 3.5% both physical and sexual violence (Ukrainian Women's Congress, 2023).

Moreover, Ukrainian refugees continue to face accommodation problems due to high rental prices in Luxembourg, noted KOLO, adding that reception conditions may compound stress.

At its core, "One Day" is about returning to oneself after trauma. The lyrics follow those who, after enduring hardship, gradually reclaim their own voice, dignity and identity.

"During the months of putting everything into helping Ukrainian refugees here, I heard many terrifying stories: an owner of a private clinic who had to work as a cleaning lady in Luxembourg because she couldn't find a job; massive mental-health issues; and four suicides among Ukrainian teenage refugees," shared Nadiya. "With all this pain, I felt uprooted, 2,000 km from Ukraine, not understood by local citizens, alone with this terrible truth that nobody seemed to notice. At that moment, I heard about a young Ukrainian refugee woman in Europe who was living with domestic abuse because she didn't have any other place to stay. That story, on top of everything else, was the last drop that made me write One Day. I wanted to tell the world about all this injustice and the personal hell these women are going through while remaining resilient and finding their ways out."

The song's melody is rooted in ancient Ukrainian traditional singing, blended with a contemporary, intimate arrangement. The bandura, a traditional Ukrainian string instrument, plays a central role, symbolising memory, resilience and cultural continuity for Ukrainians rebuilding their lives abroad, while introducing Luxembourg listeners to authentic Ukrainian folk music in a modern context.

The production of "One Day" brought together an international team: Thomas Robert, Belgian musician, composer, sound engineer and educator, responsible for the instrumental arrangement and recording; and Delphine Jacquemin, Belgian opera singer and vocal arranger, who shaped the vocal layers around Nadiya's lead.

While telling the story of Ukrainian refugees, "One Day" is also intended as a manifesto for anyone experiencing trauma, depression, burnout, grief or violence. Nadiya added: "It's for anyone who feels broken. I want people to remember that whatever they are living now, it is temporary. One day, it will be better."

Nadiya Balych is a Ukrainian bandura player, singer and cultural activist. She has lived in Belgium for more than 20 years and has been active in Luxembourg's cultural scene for the past decade. Through her non-profit organisation Belle Bandura asbl, she has founded several Ukrainian music ensembles for children and adults, using music, culture and community projects to support integration, social connection and psychosocial resilience among Ukrainians and residents in Luxembourg and the Greater Region.

"One Day" is now available on Spotify and Apple Music, as well as on YouTube (video below).