UKRAINE – From the collapse of the national final to the collapse of the entire country. Ukraine again gives a dramatic aspect to the Eurovision Song Contest. A country with the absolute qualification rate suffers its own drama. This is how team oikotimes time-lapses the events.

On the eve of the Ukrainian national final, the parody started showing up.

FEBRUARY 11
The running order for Vidbir Grand Final has been changed, according to Suspilne, the broadcaster in charge of the Ukrainian selection process. They said that, after rehearsals, the production crew decided to switch two of the contestants about in the running order. Roxalana, who was supposed to play in the fifth slot, will instead perform in the sixth, while Kalush Orchestra will perform in the fifth.

Later that night, the favourite, Alina Pash wins the national final.

A number of guests performed in the final of Vidbir 2022, including 2021 act GO_A alongside jury members Jamala and Tina Karol. Viewers were also treated to a performance by Ukraine’s four most recent Junior Eurovision representatives: Darina Krasnovetska, Sophy Ivy, Oleksandr Balabanov and Olena Usenko.

FEBRUARY 12
Kalush Orchestra has stated to Ukrainian media that they believe the results of Vidbir 2022 were falsified and want to challenge the organisers in court. The Lead of the group Oleh Psyuk commented:

“When we wanted to check the results of the protocol, the door was closed in front of us. And the security guard held the door after the door was opened, everyone ran away, all we could do was keep it. We want justice, just show us this card and all, it seems a very strange position. If everything was good there, there would be no such action. If everything is fair, it is shown immediately, but I did not think so. People are all for us, you saw. Ukraine, we will raise people directly. There is a falsification.”

FEBRUARY 15
Suspilne is currently investigating whether Alina Pash can represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2022 after the singer confirmed she has visited Crimea. Currently entering Crimea from any border point other than that with Ukraine is illegal according to the Ukrainian Government. Alina Pash shows documents for her legal pass! The national broadcaster is not convinced!

FEBRUARY 16
Alina Pash withdraws before the decision by the national broadcaster which is also the same.

Following the publication of documents for crossing into Crimea in the media, the State Border Guard Service stated to the Ukrainian broadcaster that they had not issued the certificate, raising questions about the legitimacy of the paperwork.

FEBRUARY 17, KALUSH to the rescue!

At an extraordinary meeting of the Organising Committee of the National Selection for Eurovision 2022, UA: PBC decided that they will offer Kalush Orchestra the chance to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2022. Kalush Orchestra finished second in Vidbir last weekend with the song “Stefania”, receiving maximum points from the public vote.

Until FEBRUARY 22, the Russian threats to invasion were stalling the announcement. But on the morning of May 22nd, Ukrainian state television announces KALUSH ORCHESTRA as the country’s entrants in Eurovision 2022 with the song “STEFANIA”, a song about their mother. On the same day, the Ukrainian broadcaster was forced to present the detailed results of the national final. KALUSH ORCHESTRA had won the public voting!

FEBRUARY 24, Russia invades Ukraine.

Everyone is upset with the Russian invasion but EBU immediately shouts out neutrality in their first statement. Sweden and Denmark react to the EBU neutrality. The next day, The Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania and Iceland threatened to withdraw. EBU is now forced to take the big decision and ban Russia from Eurovision 2022.

FEBRUARY 25: The invasion is ongoing and Kyiv is sieged by the Russian army…

and the drama continues…

BUT THERE IS MORE

It was about time for the EBU to stop the insane neutral position they always keep, especially with the European Continent bursting in the flames of the Russian / Ukraine conflict. Russia is finally out.

But Russia is INSIDE Ukraine and sieges Kyiv, a capital that is almost ready to surrender. Ukrainian President already seeks ways to meet the Russians and surrender, which means that a new pro-Russian regime is about to be established.

This will lead to changes in the state broadcaster. Keeping in mind that Russia is already banned from Eurovision 2022, a new pro-Russian regime is about to either withdraw Ukraine from Eurovision too or change the artists and the song, especially keeping in mind the anti-Russian sentiments of Kalush Orchestra.

So, we might see Ukraine in the 2nd position of the betting odds, but we should not be so sure that this new puppet state to be established is going to participate in Eurovision 2022.

Not sure that there will be any Ukrainian artist ready to serve the new regime or even EBU might finally see that there is a new puppet-entrant in Eurovision 2022 and ban Ukraine as well.

Read all this with caution, it’s just personal thoughts, but with our experience, we expect bad news from Ukraine, especially talking with our sources in Kyiv!

an oikotimes original text

CODEC News: