From the ESC to the Ukraine war: Sieger-Singer "ready to fight" - the photo probably captures the kiss of farewell
Created: 05/17/2022, 10:44 am
By: Richard Strobl
Oleh Psiuk from the band Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine celebrates winning the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
© Jens Büttner/dpa
On Saturday evening, singer Oleh Psiuk and his band Kalush Orchestra won the ESC.
Now he's going back to the Ukraine war.
Turin – Oleh Psiuk and his band Kalush Orchestra celebrated in Turin on Saturday.
After 2004 and 2016, the musicians won the third ESC for Ukraine.
But after the winner's evening, the return to the bitter reality of war followed immediately.
The current focus is on singer Oleh Psiuk.
After the winning performance at the ESC, the 28-year-old had already caused a sensation when, to the thunderous applause of the spectators, he spoke up and said into the microphone: "Help Ukraine, help Mariupol - right now!" Actually a breach of the rules at the ESC, which does not allow political messages.
But in times of the Ukraine war, the singer was apparently quickly forgiven for taking this step.
From the ESC to the Ukraine war - the photographer captures the last kiss
After the win, a photographer then captured an intimate and apparently very emotional moment: singer Oleh kissing his girlfriend Oleksandra goodbye.
Because: The singer has to go back to his home country, where the war is already waiting for him.
Oleh Psiuk (l), frontman of the band Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine, kisses his girlfriend Oleksandra before leaving the Universo Hotel after winning the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
© Luca Bruno/dpa
Even the trip to Turin was only possible for the men from Kalush Orchestra with a special permit.
Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are currently forbidden to leave Ukraine.
They should be ready for military service.
ESC winner Oleh: "I'm ready to fight"
After the victory, the army and the Ukraine war are apparently waiting for Oleh.
According to
RTL
, the singer was called up just two days after his band had been selected to compete at the ESC.
However, in addition to the
picture
, this also contradicts a report from
Stern
.
It says here that Oleh has not been called up "yet".
Nevertheless, in the
Stern
interview he described how much life in Ukraine was shaped by the war: “Another band member is still fighting at the front.
And my girlfriend made Molotov cocktails, a lot," says the singer.
Already in the interview he emphasized: "I am ready to fight - to the end".
