The act’s hometown of Ternopil was hit by Russian missiles minutes before they took to the stage in Liverpool.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry has accused Russia of attacking the Kyiv and Ternopil regions moments before and during the country’s Eurovision performance.
Local administrators in the city of Ternopil stated that two people had been injured by the missile attack, but were also able to confirm that no fatalities had been reported.
The city’s mayor Serhiy Nadal also informed media that a number of structures had been damaged, but that these were thankfully warehouses removed from residential zones.
The duo act of Tvorchi, who were representing last year’s Eurovision winners, posted to Instagram ten minutes before their performance about the attacks.
Following their appearance on stage, the act released a statement saying that “Ternopil is the name of our hometown, which was bombed by Russia while we sang on the Eurovision stage about our steel hearts, indomitability and will… Europe, unite against evil for the sake of peace!”
On the night, the producer and vocalist tandem performed a song entitled ‘Heart of Steel’, which recounts the infamous Ukrainian resistance at the Azovstal steel plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
💛 Video of the very long-awaited performance of Ukraine at #Eurovision2023
Group TVORCHI with the song Heart of steel.
— Oriannalyla 🇺🇦 (@Lyla_lilas) May 13, 2023
At the end of their performance, Tvorchi held their fists aloft in the air as a sign of solidarity with their fellow countrymen, with acts from other nations seen waving the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine.
Speaking after the act’s performance, the UK’s ambassador to Ukraine Dame Melinda Simmons described the song as “poignant”, before adding that it was a “reminder that the reason why Ukraine couldn’t host this event because Russia continues to invade and the people of Ukraine live in continuing danger”.
Ternopil’s mayor also reacted to Tvorchi’s evocative performance, thanking them for their representing of the city;
“Thank you, because your speech has become a symbol not only of the country, but of the whole world”.
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