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Footage has emerged of a defiant Ukrainian soldier at Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant singing a rendition of the Eurovision-winning song ‘Stefania’, even as the explosions of Russian bombs thundered overhead.
The song, performed by Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra, stormed to victory at the Eurovision grand final on Saturday night.
‘Stefania’ was written as a tribute to the frontman Oleh Psiuk’s mother, but has transformed into a war anthem since Russia’s invasion on February 24.
Psiuk’s lyrics ‘I’ll always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed’ are said to have taken on a special meaning in light of the conflict.
Though more than a thousand civilians who were trapped in the besieged steel factory have now been evacuated, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers still remain.
They are staging a valiant last stand for Mariupol despite dwindling resources and growing casualties, and are enduring near constant Russian shelling and bombing raids.
Footage has emerged of a defiant Ukrainian soldier at Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant singing a rendition of the Eurovision-winning song ‘Stefania’, even as the explosions of Russian bombs thundered overhead
Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine celebrate after winning the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Palaolimpico arena, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, May 14, 2022. Frontman Oleh Psiuk, wearing a pink hat clutching the trophy, wrote the lyrics to ‘Stefania’
Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine stand on the stage after winning the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Palaolimpico arena, Turin, on Saturday May 14
Pictured: Russian Incendiary munitions fall over the vast Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, in a terrifying video posted to social media on Sunday showing the scale of the damage that has been done to the vast coastal complex
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra scored a resounding victory at the Eurovision grand final, finishing on 631 points while the UK came in a surprising second with 466 points.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to hail the win and even vowed to hold next year’s competition in Mariupol, despite much of the city having been reduced to rubble amid Russia’s invasion.
‘Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe. Next year Ukraine will host Eurovision,’ he said.
‘For the third time in its history and, I believe, not the last. We will do our best to one day host the participants and guests of Eurovision in Ukrainian Mariupol. Free, peaceful, rebuilt.
‘I thank the Kalush Orchestra for this victory and everyone who gave us your votes. I am sure that the sound of victory in the battle with the enemy is not far off. Glory to Ukraine.’
Oleh Psiuk dedicated the victory to the soldiers trapped in Azovstal, who are now singing renditions of his Eurovision-winning song while trapped underground.
‘I ask all of you, please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal, right now,’ said Psiuk when handed the microphone after his performance.
Russia has continued its ruthless bombardment of the steel plant in an attempt to secure complete control over Mariupol.
A small contingent of Ukrainian fighters are still managing to hold out there, despite running dangerously low on ammunition, food, water and medical supplies.
Over the weekend, Ukraine accused Russia of dropping phosphorus bombs as footage emerged of what appeared to be incendiary munitions falling to the ground and igniting.
More of the bursts are seen above the factory, where Ukrainian soldiers are making a final stand against Russia’s onslaught of Mariupol. Hundreds of flaming munitions fall the ground
Pictured: A view of Russia army shelling to storm the territory of the besieged Azovstal plant in Southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on May 14, 2022
From a distance, the explosions look almost like fire crackers, but in reality are a series of countless detonations.
As the camera pans out, more bursts of munitions are seen erupting over the plant, raining flaming explosives down from above.
The attack is unrelenting, with hundreds of the sparks landing on the roofs and grounds of the steel works and setting them alight.
Ukrainians claimed the video showed Vladimir Putin’s forces dropping 9M22S incendiary and phosphorus bombs on Azovstal, that an official said burn at temperatures of over 2,000 degrees Celsius.
‘The Russian military themselves claim that 9M22S incendiary shells with thermite layers were used,’ Mariupol mayoral adviser Petr Andryushchenko said on Sunday.
‘The combustion temperature is about 2,000 to 2,500 degrees Celsius. It is almost impossible to stop the burning.’
In the wake of Psiuk’s plea to help evacuate the soldiers trapped in Azovstal, pro-Kremlin Telegram accounts published a series of images depicting Russian bombs destined for the plant bearing cruel taunts.
Chilling images have emerged of cruel taunts scrawled on the side of Russian bombs destined for Mariupol in the wake of Ukraine’s success at the Eurovision song contest last night. ‘Just as you asked for, Kalusha! For Azovstal,’ the message reads – a mocking retort to Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra’s plea for further aid in Ukraine and for the evacuation of Ukrainian fighters from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol
‘#Eurovision2022. I heard the call to f*** up Azov,’ is written on the side of a Russian OFAB 250-270 high explosive fragmentation bomb destined to be dropped on the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol
‘Just as you asked for, Kalusha! For Azovstal,’ the messages read.
‘#Eurovision2022. I heard the call to f*** up Azov. Help Mariupol. Help Mariupol right now.’
Andryushchenko shared the images of the Russian bombs on his own Telegram channel, where he condemned Putin’s forces for having ‘lost their humanity’.
The OFAB 250-270 bombs on which the taunts were written are high explosive fragmentation devices designed to destroy military-industrial facilities, armoured vehicles and large groups of soldiers by spraying a torrent of armour piercing shrapnel over a large area.
‘They are just inhuman… they have lost anything remotely similar to humanism and humanity,’ the adviser declared.
‘This is the reaction of the Russian military to our victory at Eurovision 2022… In Russia, a century of repentance will follow the losses.’
