Ukraine’s Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra will celebrate ‘after the war’
- Frontman Oleg Psyuk said: ‘People are getting killed in the war or they fight in the war or lose their jobs in Ukraine, it is not really the best backdrop for celebrations’
- ‘We will probably have a big celebration after the war because victory is great, winning Eurovision is fantastic but there is just so much stuff going on,’ Psyuk said
The lead singer of Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra has said the folk-rap group will celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest win “after the war”.
The act had been the front runner of the competition since the invasion, which prompted organisers to ban Russia from competing. Following their win in Turin, Italy, following a powerful performance of the song Stefania, Kalush Orchestra said the victory was “for every Ukrainian”.
During a press conference, frontman Oleg Psyuk said: “We haven’t really celebrated yet.
“We will probably have a big celebration after the war because victory is great, winning Eurovision is fantastic but there is just so much stuff going on.
“People are getting killed in the war or they fight in the war or lose their jobs in Ukraine, it is not really the best backdrop for celebrations.”
Addressing the social media post from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who said next year Ukraine will host Eurovision, Psyuk said: “If the president said it’s going to happen, then it’s going to happen.
“We will host Eurovision in a newly rebuilt and happy Ukraine. He congratulated us and he is happy we won.”
Psyuk said Ukraine’s Eurovision win “lifted” the war-torn nation’s spirits and he remains hopeful for the future of the country.