by In Trieste
Ukraine won the 2022 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on Saturday night in the north Italian city of Turin, with Stefania by Kalush Orchestra.
The Ukrainian folk-rap group, the odds-on favorite to win the 66th Eurovision, took the title with 631 points, surging to the top thanks to 439 votes from the public.
Kalush Orchestra came 165 points ahead of Sam Ryder who took second place for the UK with Space Man, while Chanel Terrero came third for Spain with SloMo.
News of the victory was welcomed by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who wrote on social media: “I am sure that our victorious chord in the battle with the enemy is approaching. Slava Ukraini!”
The triumph by Kalush Orchestra – whose performance in Turin ended with the plea: “Please help Ukraine, help Mariupol, help Azovstal right now” – means that Ukraine will host the Eurovision next year.
Zelenskiy, who ahead of the final urged the public to vote for Ukraine, said the host city for Eurovision 2023 should be in a “free, peaceful and rebuilt” Mariupol.
