Inspired by Lesya Ukrainka’s poems: singer Okhtyrchanka presents music video ‘Who told you?’

Singer Valeria Okhtyrchanka presents a new music video, ‘Who Told You?’, in honour of Lesya Ukrainka’s birthday. The song ‘Who Told You?’ was written using Lesya Ukrainka’s poem ‘Who Told You That I Am Weak’ and Okhtyrchanka’s music, while the arrangement was created using artificial intelligence.

Valeria Okhtyrchanka directed the video: “The video was shot in three locations, one of which is in my hometown of Okhtyrka. Filming took place on four different days. But it all lasted for two years. The first fragment with books was filmed almost two years ago in winter. Then I gradually planned the shooting in the following locations. The motorcycle scenes were filmed in July 2025, and the parking lot scenes in August 2025. I am the director and screenwriter of this video.”

The clip features three heroines: the first is a strong, fiery warrior, the second is a weak and gentle girl, and the third is a courageous and desperate racer who rushes into an unknown journey into the future. Each of the images is a comparison with modern Ukrainian women who defend their homeland in the army or were forced to go abroad to seek refuge.

The singer noted that she was also born on 25 February and therefore always felt a spiritual kinship with Lesya Ukrainka’s poetry. Okhtyrchanka believes that the words of the poem ‘Who told you that I am weak’ are relevant today for every Ukrainian woman, because it is a story of a personal daily struggle for life and survival. In every line of the song, we can recognise ourselves, our battle with circumstances, evil and despair.

Valeria Okhtyrchanka is a singer-songwriter, poet and Honoured Artist of Ukraine. She performs her own songs in the pop-rock and symphonic rock genres. She writes the lyrics and music for all her songs and also directs her music videos.