Ukraine blows Eurovision away with jaw-dropping, emotionally-charged performance

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Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra received rapturous applause from the audience after performing their song “Stefania” at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The group, which is the bookies’ favourite to win the contest, stood on the stage as the audience waved Ukrainian flags to show their support for the country.

The folk rap song, which Kalush Orchestra frontman told NME is about his mother, has taken on a new significance since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, starting a barbaric war that has resulted in death, destruction, and the mass migration of millions of Ukrainians.

The reaction on social media was swift, with many heaping praise on Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra for delivering a powerful, moving performance.

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra appealed for help on the Eurovision stage googletag.cmd.push(function () { deployads.push(function() { deployads.gpt.display("Video_Unit_1x1"); deployads.gpt.pubadsRefresh([Video_Unit_1x1]); }); });

Many were moved by the band’s plea to those watching at home to help those in Ukraine and specifically in Mariupol, which has been among the worst hit regions in Putin’s war.

Emotional moment as Ukraine takes the stage at Eurovision. At the end, they ask the audience to please help Ukraine and Mariupol. #Eurovision https://t.co/GmnrBjIA5o

— Christian Sierra (@CSierra92) May 14, 2022

The Ukraine lads have said they will be back on the frontline on Monday. Take that in for a second. #GloryforUkraine #Eurovision

— Jon Will Chambers (@jonwillchambers) May 14, 2022

Ukraine could've sang the alphabet and I'd still be emotional. #Eurovision

— Jack Duncan