The UK government has announced that it will allocate around 3,000 tickets for Ukrainians who have been forced to leave their homes and are currently residing in the UK. This move will allow them to attend one of the live shows and help celebrate the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra’s victory at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Even though Ukraine won the competition in 2022, it is unable to host the event due to Russia’s illegal invasion. As a result, the UK, which finished second in last year’s contest, has agreed to host the event and showcase Ukraine’s culture and people.
The allocation of tickets to displaced Ukrainians for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool is another example of the UK’s strong support for Ukraine. The government has also announced £10 million in funding to ensure that the event truly showcases Ukrainian culture. This funding will support Liverpool City Council and the BBC’s partnerships with Ukrainian artists and performers to create a collaborative show celebrating music and how it unites people from around the world.
The funding will also support security, visa arrangements, and other operational aspects of the contest, as well as Liverpool City Council’s schools, community, and volunteering programs.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer stated that Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine prevented the contest from being held in Ukraine. However, she also highlighted that the UK is honored to be supporting the BBC and Liverpool in hosting the event on Ukraine’s behalf, and the government is determined to ensure that the Ukrainian people are at the heart of this event.
The Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, expressed his gratitude to the UK government, Liverpool City Council, and the BBC for their efforts to honor Ukraine’s culture and people through this event. He also stated that the allocation of almost 3,000 tickets to displaced Ukrainians for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool will allow them to celebrate their country’s rich culture and music.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, added that Ukraine is at the heart of all their Eurovision host city plans, and the city is working with the Ukrainian community to create a thought-provoking and powerful program that is all-encompassing & representative of modern Ukraine.
A year ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to millions of Ukrainians being displaced from their homes, with many of them seeking refuge in the UK. Applicants based in the UK who have been granted entry through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme, or the Ukraine Extension Scheme will have the opportunity to secure tickets to the nine live shows, including the semi-finals, the preview shows, and the live final on Saturday, 13 May.
The announcement of the ticket allocation and funding comes after President Zelenskyy’s visit to the UK, during which the Prime Minister underlined the country’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and helping secure lasting peace.
