ST. PETERSBURG, December 7. /TASS/. World-acclaimed Russian opera singer, soloist of the St. Petersburg-based Mariinsky Theatre, Anna Netrebko, on Sunday donated a one-million-rouble /18,980 U.S. dollars/ certificate from her personal incomes to the Anatoly Solovyanenko National Opera and Ballet Theatre in east Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

The charity action took place within the framework of the third St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, which opened here on Sunday.

“I have friends, young musicians in Donetsk. They told me how they are living under bombs but never stop coming to the conservatory for rehearsals. I am not a politician, I just wanted to extend a helping hand to Donetsk,” Netrbeko told TASS.

Netrebko will take part in a chamber concert along with other Russian and world stars.