Irish rockers U2 back Ukraine with Kyiv metro gig

Bono and The Edge performed anthems in a metro station in the capital city

Bono, vocalist with the Irish rock band U2, sees shelling damage in a residential area in the Ukrainian town of Irpin, near Kyiv. AFP

Bono and U2 guitarist the Edge sign a flag during their visit to Irpin. AFP

Bono greets people in Irpin. AFP

The rock musicians visit the site of a mass grave by the Church of St Andrew Pervozvannoho All Saints in the town of Bucha. AFP

The church's priest, Andrii Holovine, shows the pair images on his phone. AFP

The priest guides the musicians to the site of the mass grave in Bucha. AFP

Bono sings during a performance for Ukrainian people inside a subway station in Kyiv. Reuters

Bono sings during a performance for Ukrainian people inside a subway station in Kyiv. Reuters

Bono and the Edge sing during a performance for Ukrainian people inside a subway station. Reuters

Ukrainians crowd the Kyiv subway station for the performance. Reuters

Bono performs with Ukrainian singer Taras Topolya, of the band Antytila, who now serves in the Ukrainian army. EPA

Bono among the crowd during the Kyiv subway performance. EPA

Bono and the Edge perform in the subway station which is also used as a bomb shelter. AFP

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U2 stars Bono and The Edge have shown their support for Ukraine by performing to a crowd in a bomb shelter in a metro station in the capital, Kyiv.

From the platform of a Kyiv metro station, Bono, 61, sang With or Without You, Sunday Bloody Sunday and other anthems from the world-famous Irish rock band.

Videos on social media show the duo playing to a small crowd of Ukrainians, including fatigue-wearing members of the besieged country’s armed forces.

During the show, Bono praised the fight for “freedom” in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian forces on February 24.

"The people in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you are fighting for all of us who love freedom," said Bono.

He also referenced the past conflicts in the band's native Ireland and its troubles with a mightier neighbour.

A U2 social media post says they were invited to play by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and that the performance showed their “solidarity” with Ukraine.

The surprise appearance by Bono — a rock star and long-time humanitarian who lends his voice to moral causes — came as air raid sirens echoed across Kyiv and as Russian forces pressed ahead with their assault on eastern Ukraine.