A tearful Russian soldier has blasted Vladimir Putin on camera for killing civilians and children during their invasion of Ukraine.
24.02.2022 - 20:37 / ok.co.uk
The Eurovision Song Contest has said it plans to welcome performances from both Russia and Ukraine later this year, despite Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion. Competition organisers said that the annual competition was a "non-political cultural event" and seemed to dismiss the idea that Russia could be banned from the event due to its attack on neighbouring Ukraine.The 66th edition of the annual competition is due to take place in Turin in May after Italian rock band Maneskin triumphed during last year's contest.
A statement from the contest, which is produced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) read: "The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political cultural event which unites nations and celebrates diversity through music.” "The EBU’s public broadcaster members in both Russia and Ukraine have committed to participating in this year’s event in Turin and we are currently planning to welcome artists from both countries to perform in May. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter "We of course will continue to monitor the situation closely." However, some viewers on social media have called for Russia to be banned from the upcoming contest.
One person wrote on Twitter: “Russia also need to be barred from competing at Eurovision”, while another tweeted the official Eurovision account, writing: “BAN RUSSIA FROM EUROVISION NOW." Another added: “A very important sanction would be banning Russia from Eurovision”. Former X Factor stars Jedward tweeted earlier this week: “Just Putin it out there! Russia you aren’t winning Eurovision and you’re definitely not winning this war!” Last week, the act chosen to represent Ukraine in Turin withdrew from representing her
.A tearful Russian soldier has blasted Vladimir Putin on camera for killing civilians and children during their invasion of Ukraine.
The Kremlin is believed to have been thrown into anarchy following a number of blows to Vladimir Putin's regime, as the planned invasion of Ukraine slows.
Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova has spoken out in a new interview against Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, calling the Russian leader “insane”.Tolokonnikova and her Pussy Riot bandmates have been longtime critics of Putin’s regime, with Tolokonnikova herself spending two years in a Siberian prison for dissenting. Earlier this year, she and bandmate Nika Nikulshina were labelled “foreign agents” by the Russian government.In a new interview with The Guardian, Tolokonnikova discussed her fears for the people of Ukraine and the jeopardy facing Russians who speak out against Putin.“Putin just signed a law that said you’re going to get 15 years in jail for even discussing the war in Ukraine,” she said.
Netflix is no longer serving customers in Russia amid the Ukraine invasion ordered by Vladimir Putin.
Actor Sean Penn has told fans that he 'walked miles' to the Polish border after being caught up in the Ukraine invasion.
Franz Ferdinand have cancelled their upcoming shows in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine last week.The Scottish band have become the latest act to axe their planned Russian gigs in the wake of the widely condemned Vladimir Putin-ordered military assault, with Yungblud, Green Day and the Russian rapper Oxxxymiron also scrapping shows in recent days.After speaking out in support of the “open and welcoming” people of Kyiv last week, Franz Ferdinand have confirmed this morning (March 1) that their scheduled gigs in St Petersburg and Moscow on June 29 and July 1 will no longer take place.The band said in a statement that “the only reason for this is the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian state”.“We love Russia. This great country has inspired our band through its art and literature and since we first played there 17 years ago, we have built a rich and deep relationship with our Russian fans,” the band said.“Since Thursday morning [February 24], we have spoken to many of our friends in Russia via social media and have encountered unanimous opposition to this violence and solidarity with our Ukrainian friends.
The Rasmus are set to represent Finland at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest after winning a televised competition over the weekend (February 26).The band won in a landslide victory with their song ‘Jezebel’, which was co-written and produced by previous collaborator Desmond Child (KISS, Aerosmith). It was announced last month that the band were hoping to represent their country at the ceremony.Speaking after winning Finland’s selection process event – Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) – on Saturday night, vocalist Lauri Ylönen said: “We did it! We are so happy.
New sanctions have been announced targeting Russia's central bank.
Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t escape the Saturday Night Live treatment this week. The 69-year-old was spoofed by Colin Jost on the Saturday, Feb. 27 episode, where the ‘Weekend Update’ host got in multiple shots as he spoke about Putin’s current spearheading of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.