Music video by Ukrainian Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra goes viral

Footage of their winning hit 'Stefania' attracts almost six million views in less than 24 hours

Kalush Orchestra of Ukraine are named the winners of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest at Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, on Saturday. Getty Images

Chanel from Spain performs during the Grand Final. AP Photo

Kalush Orchestra pose for photographers after winning. AP Photo

Presenters Alessandro Cattelan and Mika during the Grand Final. Getty Images

Eurovision 2022 presenters Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Mika with Kalush Orchestra. Getty Images

Mika performs on stage. Getty Images

Mika performing to a spectacular backdrop. Getty Images

Members of Kalush Orchestra celebrate after winning. AP Photo

Britain's Sam Ryder, left, reacts as he finishes second in the annual song contest. AP Photo

Sam Ryder from Britain performs his song 'Space Man'. EPA

From left, Victoria De Angelis, Ethan Torchio, Damiano David and Thomas Raggi of Italy's 2021 Eurovision winners Maneskin perform. Getty Images

Italian singer Laura Pausini performs. Getty Images

A general view of the Palaolimpico arena in Turin, where the extravaganza was held. AP Photo

Spectators react during the Grand Final. AP Photo

Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, fresh off their Eurovision victory, released a new music video on Sunday of their winning hit Stefania that features scenes of war-ravaged Ukraine and women in combat gear. This ensured the annual song contest took on ever more political tones given Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“This is how we see Ukrainian mothers today,” Kalush frontman Oleh Psiuk said of the video, which had already racked up millions of views within hours of its release. “We were trying to deliver the message of what Ukraine looks like today.”

Within 20 hours, the video had almost six million views.

The video was released hours after Kalush Orchestra brought Ukraine its third Eurovision win. They pulled ahead of Britain in the grand finale thanks to a surge of popular votes from some of the estimated 200 million viewers from 40 participating countries. The win buoyed Ukrainian spirits and represented a strong affirmation of Ukrainian culture, which Psiuk said was “under attack” by Russia’s invasion.

Band members posed for photos and signed autographs outside their three-star Turin hotel on Sunday, packing their own luggage into taxis en route to an interview with Italian host broadcaster RAI before heading home. They have to return to Ukraine on Monday after being given special permission to leave the country to attend the competition; most Ukrainian men between age 18 and 60 are barred from leaving in case they are needed to fight.

Oleh Psiuk, frontman of Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra, signs autographs before leaving Universo Hotel, after winning the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest. AP Photo

That stark reality made for a bittersweet moment Sunday in Turin, as Kalush vocalist Sasha Tab had to say goodbye to his wife Yuliia and two children. They fled Ukraine a month ago and are living with a host Italian family in nearby Alba. She and the children were at the band’s hotel and she wept as Tab held his daughter in his arms before getting into the cab.

Russia was banned from the Eurovision Song Contest this year after its February 24 invasion of Ukraine, a move organisers said was meant to keep politics out of the contest that promotes diversity and friendship among nations.

But politics nevertheless entered the fray, with Psiuk ending his winning performance with a plea from the stage: “I ask all of you, please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now!” he said, referring to the besieged steel plant in the strategic port city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the victory, saying he hoped Ukraine would be able to host the contest next year and predicting the “victorious chord in the battle with the enemy is not far off.”

Stefania was written by lead singer Psiuk as a tribute to his mother, but since Russia’s invasion it has become an anthem to the motherland, with lyrics that pledge: “I’ll always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed.”

The new music video features women soldiers carrying children out of bombed-out buildings, greeting children in shelters, and leaving them behind as they board trains. The video credits said it was shot in towns that have seen some of the worst destruction of the war, including Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka and Hostomel.

The video was clearly made before the band left Ukraine as it features band members and — presumably — actors performing in the rubble.

“Dedicated to the brave Ukrainian people, to the mothers protecting their children, to all those who gave their lives for our freedom,” it said.

Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk and vocalist Sasha Tab, right, are photographed by a fan. AP Photo

Ukrainians hailed the victory on Sunday as a much-needed boost. The national rail operator announced that the train that passes through Kalush, the birthplace of Psiuk, will be renamed the Stefania Express.

“Every little victory is important for every Ukrainian, for our Ukraine, for each one of us,” Kyiv resident Svitlana Nekruten said.

Albert Sokolov, an evacuee from Mariupol, said he had no doubt Ukraine would be victorious.

“I listened to this song in Mariupol when we were being bombed, so I was sure that they would win,” he said Sunday in Kyiv.

Russians said the vote was ultimately political, but also showed that Kalush Orchestra and Ukraine had support.

“Eurovision is always about politicised choices; some situations call for a certain choice,” Moscow resident Olga Shlyakhova said. “Of course, I think most people support Ukrainians. They can’t think differently, because they understand it’s a tragedy. That’s why they chose (the winners) with their hearts.”

Anastasiya Perfiryeva, another Moscow resident, noted the popular vote that was so decisive in the victory.

“It was ordinary people who voted. They supported (the winners). Well done. I think that in any case the team was strong, and the support from outside is always pleasant.”

Kalush Orchestra includes folklore experts and mixes traditional folk melodies and contemporary hip hop in a strong defence of Ukrainian culture. This has taken on added meaning as Russia has sought to assert that Ukraine’s culture is not unique.

Psiuk, in his trademark pink bucket hat, said the band isn’t trying to be “cool” with its unusual blend of old and new, but that clearly it hit a chord and found broad popular support that propelled Ukraine to victory.

“We are not trying to be like an American hip-hop band,” he said. “We are trying to present our culture, slightly mixed.”

This year's Eurovision Song Contest contestants — in pictures:

UK representative Sam Ryder performs on stage at the Eurovision "Welcome Party" at Sala La Riviera in Madrid on April 16. Getty Images

Kalush Orchestra, Ukraine's entry to the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, perform to Ukrainian Jewish refugees during a show at a hotel in Jerusalem on April 5. AFP

The trio Subwoolfer perform 'Give That Wolf A Banana' on behalf of Norway during the Eurovision in Concert event at the AFAS Live arena in Amsterdam on April 9. AFP

The trio Systur perform 'Med Haekkandi Sol' on behalf of Iceland during Eurovision in Concert. AFP

Jeremie Makiese performs 'Miss You' on behalf of Belgium during Eurovision in Concert. AFP

Latvian band Citi Zeni perform 'Eat Your Salad' during Eurovision in Concert. AFP

Monika Liu performs 'Sentimentai' on behalf of Lithuania during Eurovision in Concert. AFP

Singer Brooke Scrullion performs with the song 'That's Rich' on behalf of Ireland during Eurovision in Concert. AFP

The Danish trio Reddi performs with the song 'The Show' on behalf of Denmark during the Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam. AFP

Singer Chanel performs the song 'SloMo' on behalf of Spain during Eurovision in Concert. AFP