The new Eurovision winner, the Ukrainian band "Kalush Orchestra", offered at auction the crystal microphone that was awarded to it as a prize for winning (expected, admittedly) the competition, thanks to the song Stefania.
The sale, which was posted on Facebook and hosted by popular Ukrainian TV presenter Serhi Pritola, was crowned a dizzying success.
The crystal microphone was sold for 500 artium coins (about 713,000 euros) to a company that operates the European crypto trading platform Whitebit, which is considered one of the largest on the continent.
In addition to the award, the band's lead singer, Ola Psyuk, sold the pink hat he often wears and which actually serves as his trademark, for an additional 293,000 euros.
The price of participating in the sale was five euros, and about 31,000 people from 56 countries participated in the sale of the hat.
The money from the sale is not intended for the pocket members of the rap band, but will be transferred to the purchase of a PD-2 unmanned aircraft system for the Ukrainian army, in order to help the country torn apart by the fight against the invading Russian forces.
"For the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, the winners are offering their prize at auction, in order to assist the Ukrainian army," read Kalush Orchestra's Instagram account, alongside a video featuring an excited appeal from Psyok and Priitola.
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"You can turn winning the competition into another symbol of victory for Ukraine. Every euro you donate will help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. Kalush Orchestra broke Eurovision voting records, let's break donation records now! Join the challenge and share this post on your story," the band members asked in the video .
The mission, as mentioned, was completed, and after the sale, Kalush Orchestra thanked Whitebit and all the participants.
Now it remains to be seen whether the promise of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zlansky that the next Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the occupied city of Mariupol will come true.
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