The Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra became the winner of Eurovision in the context of the war.

Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest Sunday morning, expressing support for a war-torn nation.

Combining traditional folk tunes and modern hip-hop to champion Ukrainian culture, the six-member group was a sentimental and betting favorite among the 25 groups and artists in the grand finale. The voice of the people at home was essential to ensure their victory.

The group’s leader, Oleg Psyuk, took advantage of the huge global audience and made an emotional appeal to the Free Fighters, who were still trapped under a steel mill in the southern port city of Mariupol after the group’s departure.

“All of you, please help Ukraine, Mariupol. “Help Azovstal right now,” Ole Psyuk, the band’s leader, told the 7,500 live-action attendees, many of whom received a standing ovation and millions of viewers on world television.

The Russians’ demand for the release of the Ukrainian fighter jets left under the Azovstal plant was an embarrassing reminder that the highly popular and sometimes hilarious Eurovision song contest was taking place in the context of the war on Europe’s eastern flank.

President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted that he was watching from Kiev and supporting the Ukrainian group.

“It’s not a war, but any victory is very important to us today,” Zelensky said, according to the president. “So let’s be our fans. Glory to Ukraine!”

The Kalush Orchestra was among 25 groups that reached the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in front of a live audience in the northern industrial city of Turin, while millions more watched on television or via streaming worldwide.

Supporters from Spain, Britain and elsewhere who packed the PalaOlympic Stadium from across Europe were fighting for their own country’s victory. However, Irina Lassi, a Ukrainian music fan, said she felt global support for her country in the war and “not just for the music”.

Russia was ruled out after invading Ukraine on February 24 this year, organizers said, a move aimed at containing politics in a competition that promotes diversity and friendship between nations.

The Ukrainian song “Stefania” was written in honor of the leader’s mother, but after the war it was transformed into an anthem for a suffering nation as the text takes on new meaning. “I will always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed,” writes Oleh Psuk, leader of the Kalush Orchestra.

The six-member group received special permission to leave the country to represent Ukraine and Ukrainian culture in a music contest. One of the original members stays to fight, while the others intend to return once the competition is over.

Back in Ukraine, in the ruined northeastern city of Kharkov, the Kalush Orchestra’s participation in the competition is seen as giving the nation another platform for international support.

“The whole country is recovering, the whole world supports us. This is really good,” said Julia Vashenko, a 29-year-old teacher.

“I think wherever Ukraine is now and there is an opportunity to talk about the war, we should talk about it,” said Alexandra Konovalova, a 23-year-old makeup artist from Kharkov. “Any competition is important now because more people are winning what is happening now.”

Anastasia Khardikova, a 24-year-old Ukrainian who lives in Sweden, said she would vote for the Kalush Orchestra and convinced her friends abroad to do the same.

The winner is chosen equally by panels of music experts in each competing nation and voted on by the public, leaving room for emotion. Britain’s Sam Ryder and Sweden’s Cornelia Jacobs were each given a 10% chance, while the Italian duo had a 6% chance of beating Mahmood & Blanco.

The winner receives a glass mic cup and a possible career upgrade.

The event has been organized by Italy since local rock band Måneskin won last year in Rotterdam. The win brought the Rome-based group international fame, opening for the Rolling Stones and appearing on Saturday Night Live and on the covers of many magazines in their usual genre outfits.

Twenty groups were selected in two semi-finals this week and faced off against the big five from Italy, Great Britain, France, Germany and Spain, who have permanent spots thanks to the competition’s financial support.