The Kalush Orchestra, representing Ukraine at the Eurovision international music contest, reached the final. Russia was disqualified this year due to aggression against Ukraine.

Soloist Oleg Psyuk dedicated the song Stefania, performed by the group, to his mother and all women who protect their children from the horrors of war.

The competition takes place in Turin, the Ukrainian group performed sixth. Many spectators held blue and yellow flags.

Switzerland, Armenia, Iceland, Lithuania, Portugal, Norway, Greece, Moldova and the Netherlands also reached the Eurovision final.

In total, 17 participants competed for the right to represent their country in the final of the competition on Wednesday.

On May 12, the second semi-final will take place, in which another 18 countries will compete.

And on May 14, the selected finalists will compete for victory in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Italy is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time in the history of the contest – it used to be held in Naples (1965) and in Rome (1991).

Kalush is a rap group founded in 2019. It is named after the city of Kalush in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine.

Initially, singer Alina Pash won the Ukrainian selection, but later she refused to go to Eurovision because of the scandal surrounding her trip to the annexed Crimea. Then the national broadcaster turned to the Kalush Orchestra. She was in the selection in second place.