Who are Antytila? The Ukrainian band backed by Ed Sheeran ahead of Concert for Ukraine

Ukrainian band Antytila went viral earlier this week after asking Ed Sheeran to help them perform at a giant televised fundraiser for their home country. Members of the band have stayed in Ukraine to defend the country and posted a video from the frontline, donning combat uniforms and helmets.

In a recorded message to the pop star, they urged him to use his influence to get them onto the bill at tonight's Concert for Ukraine at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, which will be broadcast on ITV. They hoped to join the sold-out two-hour show via live stream from Ukraine. Their heartfelt message reached the ears of Sheeran who responded saying he "couldn't wait" to check out their music.

The group formed in 2007 and have since released six studio albums while performing many stadium shows in their home country, in fact, they planned on doing another stadium tour in the summer before the war kicked off. Currently, three members of the band are fighting on the frontline in Ukraine with two more working as civilian volunteers.

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Despite their pleas, the group announced on March 25 that organisers had turned down their offer to play at the show. In a post on their social media channels, lead singer Taras Topolya said: "Hello everyone, we’re Antytila. Ed Sheeran got back to us, he said that he’ll be happy to check out our music. So we want to thank him for supporting Ukraine. It’s a big pleasure for us.

“But we also heard back from the organisers of the benefit concert and were told no. The reason is their concert has a purely humanitarian purpose but we are wearing helmets and holding arms. You know first of all we are musicians, helmets, body armour