Ukrainian duo Tvorchi defended the colors of Kiev at the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night in Liverpool, just as their western town of Ternopil was the target of Russian attacks, according to local authorities.
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The electro duo performed their track “Heart of Steel,” a song inspired by the resistance during a month-long siege of the Azovstal factory in Mariupol, which took sixth place after a standing ovation from the audience.
AFP
Minutes after her stage performance, Tvorchi posted on Instagram that Ternopil, her hometown, was under attack from Russia.
Ternopil “was bombed by Russia as we sang on the Eurovision stage about our strong hearts, our indomitability and our will,” they wrote. “Europe united against evil for peace,” they added.
Tvorchi 🇺🇦 definitely wins the graphics award. The staging was brilliant. And poignant as their university town Ternopil was attacked by 🇷🇺 rockets that evening.
— Lady Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) May 13, 2023
In the evening, an official of the Ternopil Military Administration Volodymyr Trouch announced on his Telegram account strikes against warehouses in the city.
“There were strikes against warehouses owned by trading companies and a religious organization,” he said, naming two injured people.
“These are wounds and burns caused by shrapnel. The victims are in the hospital,” the official added.
“Firefighters are on site (…) The fire has not yet been completely extinguished,” he added. The chairman of the Ternopil regional council, Mykhailo Golovko, also reported a strike in the city’s industrial zone.
Meanwhile this is #Eurovision During the night, Ukraine is again attacked by Russian missiles. We would like to remind you that 🇺🇦 could not host this event because 🇷🇺 continues the invasion and the people of 🇺🇦 live in constant danger.
— Lady Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) May 13, 2023
In late April, the Tvorchi group had to seek shelter in shelters when an air raid siren sounded in Kiev, where they were due to perform at the main train station. At the end of the alert, the duo unexpectedly played in front of surprised passengers in the station’s entrance hall.
On Saturday, Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest, succeeding Ukraine and its Kalush Orchestra, who triumphed last year with “Stefania,” a song that blends hip-hop and traditional Ukrainian music.
Due to the Russian invasion, the 67th edition of the competition, which should have been held in Ukraine, took place in the Beatles’ city in northern England.