They were the big favourites. Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy on Saturday evening, ahead of the United Kingdom and Spain, thanks to the vote of viewers who voted for the group representing the country invaded at the end of February by Russian troops.
The Kalush Orchestra, whose song “Stefania” mixes hip-hop and traditional music, garnered 631 points. Favorites of the competition, the Ukrainians are ahead of the Briton Sam Ryder and his title “Space Man” (466 points) and the Spaniard Chanel with “Slo Mo” (459 points).
“Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe”, reacted the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Facebook.
This is Ukraine’s third victory in this competition after that of 2004 and especially the 2016 edition – two years after the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea by Russia, with Jamala and the title “1944”, a song recounting the deportation of the Tatars by Stalin.
A tide of Ukrainian flags
As in the two semi-finals organized this week in Turin, a tide of blue and yellow flags of the country under the grapeshot of the Russian army swept into the arena of the Pala Olimpico in the Piedmontese capital (north-west of the Italy) where the 25 finalists performed.
“Please help Ukraine and Mariupol! Help Azоvstal”, called on stage the singer of the Kalush Orchestra, Oleh Psiuk, whose performance was applauded. “This victory is very important for Ukraine, especially this year. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Glory to Ukraine!” said the singer in the pink cap after the victory.
Political messages are generally banned at Eurovision, but the organizers have made it known that Ukraine will not be disqualified for these remarks.