Ukraine to send video entry for Eurovision 2022

Ukraine is proceeding with an entry for Eurovision 2022, but with war engulfing the nation, folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra will not appear in person.

The group wrote: “Despite the fighting, the Kalush Orchestra will record their performance in a safe place, which will be sent to the organisers of the song contest, and in case of our victory over the occupiers by May, our delegation will go to Italy and sing live all over Europe.

Kalush Orchestra  represents the country with their song “Stefania” leading the bookies odds of Italy, Sweden and United Kingdom (Australia is #10).

Earlier broadcaster Suspilne said, “Ukraine is preparing for participation in Eurovision 2022. For the group Kalush Orchestra, Eurovision is very important. At the same time, the band is focused on the situation in our country. They became more active, volunteered, enlisted in the territorial defence and called on everyone to help Ukraine and asked everyone watching this video to speak about the war and to ask [our allies] to close the skies in our country so that Russian bombs would not kill people anymore. Everything will be Ukraine! Everything will be Eurovision! ❤️🇺🇦”

The announcement comes despite persisting bombing of cities including broadcasting towers.

Kalush is currently leading the bookies odds for the Turin event, coming in May.

The band is helping Ukrainian soldiers by supplying medicine to the frontline and one member is even fighting in the territorial defense in Kyiv.

Kalush front rapper Oleh Psiuk posted earlier, “Eurovision is very important to us but the life of our family and friends is even more important. So now we are doing everything possible to help our country. One team member of our band is fighting in the territorial defense 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.”

“All my friends and people I know keep helping one another, and we are all fighting as one cohesive mechanism. So I would like to ask you and urge everyone who can hear me to help us, speak up about this problem. Earlier, it seemed to be so far away from me on TV when I watched war films, but actually it’s not. When you wake up to explosions and you do not know if your girlfriend is still alive, you understand that it’s all very close and it should not be happening in 2022.”

“I want to ask each of you who is registered in social media, who can go outside and speak up about this. We really need you to spread information and we need help to close the sky. Please help us close the sky, whoever can influence this. If the person who can influence this hears me, please do it. Let’s make the world peaceful in 2022.”

The European Broadcasting Union previously banned Russia for 2022 saying it would bring the contest into disrepute.

Source: Evening Standard, wiwibloggs