The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 is underway and it's looking like Ukraine and Norway are the favoured winners of the night.
Ukraine's entry Kalush Orchestra are paying an ode to the mothers of Ukraine who are doing all they can to protect children during the Ukraine-Russia conflict with their song Stefania. Ukraine most recent win was in 2016, when the nation was experiencing a different kind of war. It was two years after Russia seized the Crimea peninsula, which is still a deep wound for Ukrainians.
Tonight it's expected Ukraine will sweep the public vote and repeat their 2016 success. Bet365 are betting Ukraine will win the competition at 1/4 and the UK stands as a second favourite at 6/1. Interestingly Eurovision first began in 1956 as a way to unite the European continent after decades of war, one commentator who's emphasising this legacy is the Ukrainian commentator.
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Who's the Ukrainian commentator?
Timur Miroshnychenko is the Ukrainian commentator broadcasting from a bunker in an undisclosed location tonight. He has been a part of the competition since 2007 either as a host or commentator and he isn't letting this year's circumstances get in the way of his track record.
The 36-year-old played a huge part in helping Ukrainian citizens when Russia invaded on February 24. He drove a truck and delivered aid and transported refugees out of conflict zones. The United Nations reports that more than 12 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine, over six million of those have left for neighbouring countries and the remaining 6.5 million are thought to be displaced inside Ukraine.
Miroshnychenko returned to his birthplace Kyiv after Russian forces were repelled from western Ukraine to broadcast the Eurovision contest for those in Ukraine under curfew. Miroshnychenko's TV career began in 2005 when he joined the Junior Eurovision Song Contest as a commentator, two years later he replaced Pavlo Shylko and moved over to Eurovision Song Contest.
