When The Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision music contest and returned to Ukraine, the first thing they did was pose with the glass microphone alongside soldiers from their army.

The band, led by rapper Oleh Psiuk, who received massive support in solidarity with the Ukrainian people's struggle against the Russian invasion and indiscriminate bombing, won with the song "Stefania," a vindication of the patriotic tradition aimed at the younger generations.

In that folklore style so typical of Eastern Europe, The Kalush Orchestra conquered Europe. But their victory was not limited to the successful night the band experienced at the gala held in Turin. On Wednesday, May 25, the band decided to auction the glass microphone they were awarded with, and raised 838,000 euros. The trophy was sold to the Whitebit company, specialized in foreign exchange trading.

The band also auctioned off the pink hat its singer wore throughout the musical competition. The draw was based on the sale of tickets for the price of six euros (more money could be added voluntarily), and the effort raised another 347,000 euros. In total, the band received 1,185,000 euros, which were donated to the foundation created by Sergiy Prytula, a popular Ukrainian television presenter. The foundation was created in 2014 after the Russian annexation of Crimea, and has managed to raise some 22 million euros since.

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For Oleh Psiuk, the importance of participating in Eurovision was that “Ukraine continues to be seen in the rest of the world.” On Sunday, May 30, The Kalush Orchestra received special permission to leave the country again and perform at the symbolic Bradeburg Gate in Berlin, with the aim of raising money to buy medical supplies, which were distributed to hospitals throughout Ukraine.

To perform at Eurovision, the group obtained permission from the authorities to leave the country. Since the war began, the government led by President Volodymir Zelensky has ruled that all men between the ages of 18 and 60 cannot leave the country, and must report to recruitment offices to receive training and weapons. Due to this new situation, some men tried to flee illegally across borders to avoid participating in the fighting.

The song "Stefania" hooked many people for its combination of folklore with rap, and its Ukrainian lyrics captivated many across Eastern Europe, from countries such as Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia. Classic dances and break dance steps, and the sound of a high-pitched flute swayed the Eurovision audience, who danced and supported The Kalush Orchestra during their performance.

The Ukrainian group will likely continue to take advantage of its media attention to continue promoting campaigns in support of their country. According to all predictions, the Russian occupation and the war will last for a long time, and Ukraine's civilians will require a lot of foreign aid.