the city of the Ukrainian duo bombarded during the evening

2023-05-14 12:55:00

The electro duo performed a song inspired by the Ukrainian resistance during a month-long siege at the Azovstal factory in Mariupol. They finished sixth after receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

By LL with AFP

The city of the Ukrainian duo was targeted by Russian strikes while performing at Eurovision.
© OLI SCARFF / AFP

Published on 05/14/2023 at 12:55 p.m.

Ahen the Ukrainian duo Tvorchi defended the colors of kyiv during Eurovision on Saturday evening, their city of Ternopil was at the same time targeted by Russian strikes, according to local authorities.

The electro duo performed their track ‘Heart of Steel’, a song inspired by the resistance during a month-long siege at the Azovstal factory in Mariupol and which finished sixth after being given a standing ovation by the audience.

Minutes after their stage performance, Tvorchi posted on Instagram that Ternopil, their hometown, had been attacked by Russia.

Ternopil “was bombarded 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.

Victims in hospital

During the evening, an official of the military administration of Ternopil, Volodymyr Trouch, announced on his Telegram account strikes on warehouses in the city.

“There were strikes on warehouses belonging to commercial companies and a religious organization,” he said, citing two injuries. These are wounds and burns caused by shrapnel. The victims are in hospital,” the official continued.

“Firefighters are working on the spot. […] The fire is not completely extinguished yet,” he added. The chairman of the Ternopil regional council, Mykhailo Golovko, also reported a strike on the city’s industrial zone.

At the end of April, the Tvorchi group had to take refuge in shelters when an air raid siren sounded in kyiv, where they were to perform at the central station. At the end of the alert, the duo had played unexpectedly in front of surprised passengers in the entrance hall of the station.

On Saturday, Sweden won Eurovision, succeeding Ukraine and its Kalush Orchestra, which triumphed last year with “Stefania”, a song mixing hip-hop and traditional Ukrainian music.

Due to the Russian invasion, the 67th edition of the competition, which should have been organized in Ukraine, was held in Liverpool, city of the Beatles, in the north of England.