Ukraine won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest with a massive 631 votes for their song Stefania,
The country toppled fierce competition from the United Kingdom following a massive public vote, which saw the Kalush Orchestra bag an additional 439 points.
“Please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now,” lead singer Oleh Psiuk shouted after the band had performed.
Prior to the event, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shared his hope that Kalush Orchestra would win, saying in a video: “Europe, vote for Kalush Orchestra. Let’s support our fellow countrymen! Let’s support Ukraine!”
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Sam Ryder finished in second place with Space Man, after coming out on top following the jury vote.
Having emerged as a frontrunner ahead of the event, he said: “I love Eurovision. I think it’s such a privilege to be able to do it…
“I don’t want to let the stigma or fear of coming at a certain place in a table stop me from doing something and being a part of something that I enjoy so much.”
It’s the United Kingdom’s highest placement in over two decades. The country last won the Contest in 1997 with Katrina & the Waves’ Love Shine a Light.
The 2022 Eurovision Song Contest Top 5 is as follows:
- Ukraine – 631 points
- United Kingdom – 466 points
- Spain – 459 points
- Sweden – 438 points
- Serbia – 312 points
