As Ukraine’s commentator broke down in tears and announced his country's win to the war torn nation from an underground bunker, the winning act Kalush Orchestra stood on stage and shouted "Glory to Ukraine".
For all it's glitz and glamour and sometimes-ridiculous acts, the grim reality of the Ukraine-Russia war was never far away from the 166th Eurovision Song Contest. Kalush Orchestra were one of the favourites to win on Saturday night anyway, thanks in part to the way their song has taken on a life of its own. It has been used to soundtrack somewhere in the region of 150,000 largely war-related TikTok videos in the last two months.
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It was assumed Europe would show solidarity with the country being bombarded by Russian forces. In the last press conference before the grand final, frontman Oleh Psiuk said: "People like our song anyway, but hopefully a song from Ukraine with Ukrainian lyrics will be particularly appreciated by Europeans at this particular time."
A six-piece, all-male band, Kalush Orchestra is an offshoot of Kalush, a three-piece hip-hop group named after the western Ukrainian hometown of Psiuk. Now, just hours after Kalush Orchestra’s victory, the future of the band looks uncertain with the distinct possibility some of them will be back on the frontline by Monday.
Ukraine barred men of fighting age from leaving the country in the first hours of the invasion, meaning Kalush Orchestra needed special dispensation to leave for a pre-Eurovision promotional tour taking in shows in Israel, Poland and the Netherlands, and again for the final competition on Saturday. Under the terms of their release from Ukraine all five members of Kalush Orchestra have to return to the country the day after the Eurovision final, to an uncertain future that could include being asked to fight on the frontlines.
“In my case it’s actually very likely I will be called up to fight,” Psiuk said before the finals began. "Everyone should play their part in the war effort, if and when they are asked to. I know for sure that Ukrainian men with war experience are actually joining the army to fight for their country even without being called up."
The band’s members are all based in different parts of the country and all have been involved in the war effort to some extent. One of the band’s dancers, Slavik Hnatenko, has joined the territorial defence force around Kyiv.
Back in March, Psiuk said: "Now we are doing everything possible to help our country. One team member of our band is fighting in the territorial defence in Kyiv. I have established a volunteer organization. We are helping people to find accommodation, move, find medicine. Our country has united to the maximum."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Eurovision presenter vowed "We will win the war" after Kalush Orchestra’s victory as he commentated from an underground bunker.
Timur Miroshnychenko is seen with his hands on top of his head before becoming increasingly emotional and breaking down in tears while reportedly vowing that Ukraine will win the war against Russia like Kalush has won Eurovision.
Activist and political expert Kateryna Kruk tweeted alongside the powerful footage: "Ukraine’s commentator can’t stop his tears when he says we will win the war just as we won #Eurovision. Dedicates this victory to UA army that defends us and says it’s so deeply important for Ukrainians now.
"P.s. he was commenting from a bunker."
It is tradition that the winning country hosts the next song contest and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to stage the competition in Mariupol in 2023 despite the ongoing war.
