Bayraktar (song)

Bayraktar (song)

Company type	Song
Industry	Music
Founded	2022-03-01
Founder	Taras Borovok
Products	Patriotic song, propaganda music

Template:Infobox song

Bayraktar is a patriotic Ukrainian military propaganda track released on 1 March 2022 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The song honors the Baykar Bayraktar TB2 combat drone for its effective use against Russian forces. Written by Ukrainian serviceman Taras Borovok, it satirizes both the invading Russian military and the conflict itself.

Critics responded favorably to the song, which was humorously awarded an Oscar by the Ukrainian Ground Forces. "Bayraktar" is regularly broadcast on Ukrainian radio stations and frequently chanted during demonstrations.

Background

File:Bayraktar TB2 of UAF, 2020, 09 (cropped).jpg

A Bayraktar TB2 operated by the Ukrainian Air Force

This composition pays tribute to the Turkish-manufactured Baykar Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned combat aerial vehicle, which has been deployed by Ukraine’s military throughout the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The drones' utilization reportedly impeded Russia’s progression into Ukrainian territory.

The author of the song is Taras Borovok, a soldier in the Ukrainian armed forces. According to an interview with Turkish media, Borovok was asked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the invasion's first day to create a video about Bayraktar; however, he chose to compose a song instead. He stated that crafting the lyrics took approximately "15 to 20 minutes," while completing the entire piece required "1.5 to 2 hours." In an interview with Euronews, Borovok explained that his intention was to "affect people's mindset, maintain morale, and diminish Russian propaganda." He openly acknowledged that the song functions as propaganda.

Lyrics and music video

The track "Bayraktar" was made available on YouTube on 1 March 2022. Various media sources have described it as a patriotic anthem and a piece of folk-inspired propaganda. The song's verses glorify the Bayraktar drones, portraying them as instruments of retribution against the invading Russian Armed Forces. Additionally, the lyrics satirize the Russian military, their gear, the invasion itself, and even the traditional cabbage soup they consume. Many of the song’s videos incorporate footage captured by a Bayraktar TB2’s gun camera, displaying strikes on Russian military convoys within Ukrainian territory.

<poem>

The invaders arrived in Ukraine,

Equipped with fresh uniforms and armored vehicles,

Yet their supplies began to dwindle quickly.

Bayraktar, Bayraktar

Russian tank crews concealed themselves in bushes,

Sipping their cursed cabbage soup with worn-out shoes,

But even their broth overheated in hiding.

Bayraktar, Bayraktar

Sheep came from the east,

Claiming to restore a great empire,

But the finest shepherds for flocks are:

Bayraktar, Bayraktar

Their arsenal includes various weapons,

Mighty rockets and iron machines.

Our response to all these tools is:

Bayraktar, Bayraktar

They aimed to seize us immediately,

Yet we stood firm against the orcs.

Russian raiders are turned into ghosts by:

Bayraktar, Bayraktar

Russian police initiate investigations

Against those who kill ruscists, but find no evidence.

Is there a grouse responsible in our fields?

Bayraktar, Bayraktar

The Kremlin lunatic spreads propaganda,

While people swallow his words whole.

Now their Tsar has learned a new term:

Bayraktar

</poem>

Reception and legacy

Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic described the track as "highly catchy," highlighting its "straightforward rhythm". Antoni Aguera from Última Hora referred to it as an "emblematic anthem of defiance". Jochen Siemens, writing for Stern, characterized the music video—with its vivid depiction of explosions—as "among the most chilling ever witnessed," while noting the song's delivery was "almost cheerfully assured."

On the occasion of the 94th Academy Awards, the Ukrainian Ground Forces humorously awarded the song’s music video an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category via Twitter.

The composition has evolved into a potent emblem of Ukrainian resistance. Taner Doğan from the London School of Economics observed that both the song and the drone fostered a unique bond between Ukraine and Turkey, with its release being "embraced with pride by pro-government Turkish media." According to Algemeen Dagblad, the song contributes to portraying Selçuk Bayraktar, chief technology officer of Baykar, as Ukraine’s "second greatest hero" following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The track enjoys frequent airplay on Ukrainian radio stations and is commonly sung by Ukrainians during protests opposing the 2022 Russian invasion, as well as by frontline soldiers. Numerous translations and remixes have been produced, enhancing its reach. Additionally, it has been featured on the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

An internet radio station dedicated to wartime songs adopted the Bayraktar name, inspired by the song’s popularity. Gabriel Gavin of The Spectator noted that before its removal, the song amassed over one million views on YouTube. In September 2022, a university professor in Bilohirsk, Crimea, faced dismissal after playing this song in a school auditorium.

See also

• Russian warship, go fuck yourself
• Ghost of Kyiv
• Turkey–Ukraine relations