Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra plead for donations for Azovstal survivors on Ukraine Independence Day-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro

Kalush Orchestra have appealed for donations to help injured Ukraine fighters (Picture: Getty Images Europe)

Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra have marked Ukrainian Independence Day by launching an appeal for the fighters who survived the battle for the Azovstal steelworks.

The musicians, who beat the UK’s Sam Ryder in the 2022 competition, have stood in solidarity with those affected by severe fighting and destruction at the plant.

Azovstal became the last holdout of Ukrainian fighters and civilians during the fight for Mariupol, a city in the southeast of the war-torn country, which left hundreds wounded.

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has displaced millions of people and seen major cities destroyed, the Ukrainian people are determined to celebrate this week.

Wednesday, 24 August, marked 31 years since the country’s independence from Moscow’s rule, and has been observed as an annual national holiday since.

The 2022 is a uniquely poignant one as the country battles Russian forces once again, and this has, naturally, not been lost on the Eurovision winners.

The appeal comes as the world stands in solidarity with Ukraine on its independence day (Picture: REUTERS)

Kalush Orchestra have repeatedly used their platform to highlight the ongoing invasion of their country (Picture: Hollandse Hoogte/REX/Shutterstock)

Oleg Psyuk, frontman of the Kalush Orchestra, urged fans to donate towards the rehabilitation of those involved in the siege, which ended in May.

Beginning his appeal, Oleg paid tribute to the armed forces who he said had turned Russian equipment into ‘scrap metal.’

He said: ‘Earlier this week, the entire Kalush Orchestra was together in Kyiv and witnessed a “parade” of Russian equipment on the Maidan, Kyiv’s main square, which our Armed Forces turned into a pile of scrap metal.’

Oleg paid tribute to Ukraine’s armed forces (Picture: AP)

This showed Ukraine’s ‘strength, power and invincibility,’ he said.

Oleg went on: ‘This year’s independence is also for all Ukrainians away from the front line, who are more united than ever and are also working tirelessly to speed up our victory together.

‘No one will be able to take this independence away from us.’

The Azovstal plant was shelled to pieces during the fighting (Picture: REUTERS)

After honouring Ukraine and the ongoing battle, the musician pleaded with people to donate just 24 hryvnias (55p) or more on the national holiday to help with ‘the rehabilitation of fighters from “Azovstal”.’

‘On August 24, for 24 hours, we encourage our followers on social networks to donate 24 hryvnias each, all the funds will go to the rehabilitation of our military,’ he declared.

The sprawling Azovstal plant was the last holdout of Ukraininan resistance in the occupied Mariupol for over two months.

Ukrainian officials had repeatedly sounded the alarm for the fate of hundreds of soldiers in the plant, who faced dire conditions and relentless shelling.

Folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra have become international spokespeople for the Ukrainian war effort since sweeping to victory at Eurovision in May.

They have since raised more than £700,000 for the Ukrainian army by auctioning off their crystal microphone trophy, and plan to tour the US from October with a portion of proceeds going to relief efforts at home.

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Oleg recently said they were ‘grateful’ to the UK for showing solidarity with Ukraine by hosting Eurovision next year on its behalf – and hope their country will win again soon and host the competition themselves.

In June, the group delivered their first UK performance since they triumphed in Turin with a set on Shangri-La’s Truth Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

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