Ukraine will “definitely” host Eurovision after “victory in this war” against Russia, a member of the 2022 Eurovision winner, Kalush Orchestra, has said before their performance in Liverpool this weekend.
Tymofii Muzychuk said the band were grateful that the UK had taken over Eurovision hosting duties while his country remained under attack from Russia.
“Of course, we wish Eurovision was being hosted by Ukraine, but it’s still impossible for now,” he said. “At the same time, we are very glad and happy that the UK took over the responsibility to host Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.”
Muzychuk said he was sure that the Eurovision grand final in Liverpool on Saturday would include “Ukrainian motifs and culture” and the participation of “different Ukrainian singers and artists”.
“We have no doubt that we will definitely one day host Eurovision in Ukraine, and we hope it happens immediately after our victory in this war,” he said.
Tens of thousands of music fans are expected to descend on Liverpool for this year’s competition, which started with semi-finals on Tuesday and culminates in a final hosted by the likes of Graham Norton, the Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and Britain’s Got Talent’s Alesha Dixon. Norton and the former Great British Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc will split official commentator duties.
Representing the UK in the competition will be the 25-year-old singer-songwriter Mae Muller with her track I Wrote a Song. Last year’s UK entry, Sam Ryder, who was beaten to the top spot by Kalush Orchestra, will also perform.
Kalush Orchestra’s song Stefania became the first with rap lyrics to win Eurovision. The group received the highest number of TV voting points in the history of the contest, and later sold their trophy for $900,000 and donated the proceeds to the Ukrainian armed forces to buy combat drones.
The proceeds from their last tour – about $1.6m – were also donated to the Ukrainian army as well as to rebuilding cultural institutions in the country.
Muzychuk said these days the band wrote music not just for themselves but “on behalf of our country and our people”. The key message they wanted to deliver was “that our culture has a right to exist”, he said.
The group recently released their first English-language track, Changes, which they said was about their home and learning to protect it. “It’s about the fact that we cannot change the current situation in our country but we can influence it, and we can put our efforts into approaching our victory as soon as possible,” Muzychuk said.
“The war still goes on. We still fight for our freedom and independence. What the world can do for us is keep supporting us and not keep silent.”
While Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are eligible for military service and forbidden from leaving the country, Kalush Orchestra have special permission to leave, as international cultural representatives of Ukraine who collect charitable funds for the country. Each of the band’s trips requires special permits from Ukraine’s ministry of culture.
Muzychuk said the group were looking forward to their time in Liverpool and their performance on Saturday would be “very interesting and vivid, and full of adrenaline”.
They are rooting for Ukraine’s entrant, the electronic duo Tvorchi, who will perform their song Heart Of Steel. But in the event of a UK victory, Muzychuk said, the band hoped a simple swap would allow Ukraine to host Eurovision 2024 on behalf of Britain.
