- Kalush Orchestra, which won Eurovision in 2022, auctioned its trophy to support the war effort in Ukraine.
- The band raised $900,000 for aircraft.
- Kalush Orchestra won the competition on May 15 after performing a song called "Stefania."
Kalush Orchestra, the Ukrainian band that won the Eurovision song contest, auctioned off their trophy in order to raise money for the Ukrainian troops during the war against Russia.
On Sunday, the band raised $900,000 with a Facebook auction of their crystal trophy. The money will go to the Ukrainian armed forces for the purchase of multiple aircraft, Reuters reported.
The band won the competition on May 15 after performing a song titled "Stefania." Ukrainian President Zelenskyy publicly congratulated the orchestra, which performed in Italy, and said that Ukraine would host the contest next year.
"Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe! Next year Ukraine will host the Eurovision Song Contest," Zelenskyy said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The orchestra said that their win was "for every Ukrainian" and they would not celebrate their win until "after the war," the Belfast Telegraph reported.
