The first semifinal of “Eurovision 2022” took place on May 10 in Turin. Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra reached the final of the internationally popular annual song contest which will be held on May 14 in the same Italian city.
The members of the Ukrainian band are openly patriotic and emphasize that they represent a country at war, albeit against its own will.
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But they will not have to face representatives of the country that has invaded Ukraine. This year, the European Broadcasting Union banned Russia from the contest a day after it attacked its neighbor on February 24. Russia had competed in Eurovision since 1994.
Bookmakers give Ukraine record chances of winning: there has never been such a clear favorite. According to them, the Ukrainian group has at least a 47% chance of winning.
The main competitors of the Kalush Orchestra in the final are the Italians Mamud and Blanco.
For the performance by Kalush Orchestra of the song Stefania, which soloist Oleh Psiuk dedicated to his mother and all the women protecting their children during the war, many spectators displayed Ukrainian symbols in support of the victims of Russia’s aggression.
“Yo, we qualified to the Final! Thank you all for support! We will need your help again on May 14. Ukraine will always be!” the Kalush band posted on Instagram
A few days ago, the band’s published on social media a series of photos showing the conditions of injured people in Azovstal, the center of resistance in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol and calling for international help to save them.
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