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Oleh Psiuk with his band Kalush Orchestra
Photo: Maxim Fesenko / dpa
The singer of the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, Oleh Psiuk, is very worried about his family in Ukraine ahead of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
"My mother is in Ukraine and many of my relatives are in Ukraine, but there really is no safe place in Ukraine right now," the 27-year-old rapper said.
"It's really like the lottery, you never know where you're in danger," Psiuk described the situation in his homeland since the beginning of the war.
"That's why we're very worried about everyone and our relatives in Ukraine."
The song "Stefania", with which the Kalush Orchestra entered the ESC final on Saturday as a favorite, was written by Psiuk long before the Russian attack in February.
It is actually a homage to his mother, but is now also perceived as an anthem against the war: "I will always come to you, even if all the roads are destroyed," says the song, which mixes rap with Ukrainian folklore.
"We feel like we're on a mission here," said Psiuk about the ESC.
“Because right now, as we speak, Ukrainian culture is being destroyed.” The band therefore sees it as their task “to show that they are alive and have a lot to offer”.
cpa/afp
