Ukraine has won the 66th Eurovision song contest, which was held on Saturday evening in Turin in Italy. Riding a tidal wave of support from the telephone-voting European public, Stefania by Kalush Orchestra finished first after strong showings by the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden in the early voting.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, welcomed the victory, Ukraine’s third since its 2003 Eurovision debut, and said “we will do our best” to one day host the contest in the port city of Mariupol. He underlined “Ukrainian Mariupol. Free, peaceful, rebuilt!”

“I am sure our victorious chord in the battle with the enemy is not far off,’’ Zelenskiy said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

“Please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now,” lead singer Oleh Psiuk shouted from the front of the stage after the band had performed.

He later told a news conference that people can help by “spreading information, talking out this, reaching out to governments to help”.

The winning song, which mixes rap with elements of Ukrainian folk music, was originally written in honour of the group’s mothers. The group have subsequently rededicated it to all matriarchs in Ukraine, as lines such as “I’ll always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed” found new resonance. The six men who make up the group had to receive special permits to leave Ukraine and travel to Italy during the war.

Sam Ryder’s entry for the UK, Space Man, led at the halfway point, having won the jury vote from around Europe with 283 points. But after the points from the public vote were added, it finished second.

Before the event, Ryder had said he wasn’t concerned where he finished, saying “This is something that celebrates inclusivity, expression, love, peace, joy, togetherness. And so to think about the scoreboard, for me, takes a bit of the shine and the magic out of the room entirely.”

One of the night’s most notable performances was Norway’s Subwoolfer with Give That Wolf A Banana. The anonymous duo, known only under their pseudonyms Jim and Keith, performed in yellow wolf masks with the chorus pleading “Before that wolf eats my grandma / give that wolf a banana”.

Goth-rock band the Rasmus, internationally known for their 2003 hit In the shadows, sung for Finland, while Australia’s Sheldon Riley wore the night’s heaviest costume, weighing more than 40kg.

Serbia’s song In Corpore San featured a veiled critique of Serbia’s healthcare system, with artist Konstrikta washing her hands on stage while asking “What is the secret of Meghan Markle’s healthy hair?’

Russia did not compete, having been excluded by the organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), on account of the invasion of Ukraine which began on 24 February.

(Source: The Guardian)