In the early 80s, I worked as a musician at the restaurant of the tourist center "Khortitsa".
At that time, athletes who came to Zaporozhye for important competitions often stayed at the center.
One day, the guys and I, as always, showed up for work on time and saw that Leonid Ivanovich Zhabotinsky was sitting at a distant table with a couple of the same giants, only of Caucasian nationality. The table was full of delicacies, this was noticeable even from afar. It was obvious that this was a meeting of old good friends, which was soon confirmed.
Seeing us, Leonid Ivanovich came up and asked to "greet" his guests with some Ukrainian song.
Nothing better than the song "My native land" came to our minds, so we started it. In the second verse, instead of the phrase - "Come to Prykarpattia...", our quick-witted soloist - Lesha Fyodorov, desperately sang: - "Come to Zaporizhzhya, come, good people..." !!! Loud enthusiastic applause from our eminent guests was heard from the distant table!!!
Complete success!!!
At the end of the song, a satisfied Zhabotinsky rushed to the stage and (here you need to turn on your imagination), with outstretched arms tore Lesha off the carpet up, so that Lesha's legs dangled lifelessly in the air, then carefully put the dumbfounded, farewell to life, servant of God Alexei, back, rewarding him with warm friendly hugs 🥰. During some, forever drawn-out, time, our whole team was coming to our senses for a long time. Having gathered all the remaining willpower in our hands, we found the strength to play until the break. Having jumped off the stage without saying a word and holding our stomachs, we laughed for a long time at Lyokha, remembering his funny hanging body in the arms of Zhabotinsky himself. And to be honest, we even envied him a little, and it is understandable why.
By the way, Leonid Ivanovich generously paid us for this performance 👍💞.
P.S.
Many years later, I go on stage at the best concert venues in Ukraine and begin my program with this song, and every time I sadly remember that funny incident in the restaurant "Khortitsa", which the great LEONID IVANOVICH ZHABOTINSKY left in my memory 💞💞💞

We thank Gennady Fedosov for telling us his life story.