Eurovision winners sell trophy to buy drones for Ukraine military

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Kallush Orchestra, the Ukrainian group that won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, sold their winning trophy to help their homeland.

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The glass microphone was auctioned off on Facebook where it fetched $1.2 million from highest bidder Whitebit, a cryptocurrency exchange.

“You guys are amazing,” the band wrote on Facebook, according to the Guardian. “We appreciate each and every one of you who donated to this auction and a special thanks to the team Whitebit who purchased the trophy for $900,000 and are now the rightful owners of our trophy.”

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Kallush planned to purchase drones — specifically, three PD-2 drone systems — for Ukraine’s military and will do so through Ukrainian TV presenter Serhiy Prytula’s charitable fund, which raises money for their country’s army.

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The auction coincided with the band’s appearance at a charity concert at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate on Sunday where they aimed to raise money for medical care and supplies for Ukraine.

The members of Kalush were fighting as part of the Ukrainian resistance only weeks before Eurovision.

Frontman Oleh Psiuk appealed to the Germany crowd to not get used to the war, the BBC reported.

“I think it should be on the front pages always, until peace comes,” Psiuk said to the audience.

Their song, “Stefania,” which secured Kallush’s win on May 14 — and Ukraine’s third Eurovision victory — was written in honour of Psiuk’s mother which many have viewed as a rallying cry, according to the outlet.

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They also raised another $370,000 by raffling off Psiuk’s pink bucket, which he wore during the winning performance.

The winner is reportedly based in the Czech Republic.