Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra wins the Eurovision Song Contest

Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest, a clear show of popular support for the group's war-ravaged nation that went beyond music.

The band and its song "Stefania" beat 24 other performers early Sunday in the grand final of the competition. The public vote from home, via text message or the Eurovision app, proved decisive, lifting them above British Tik Tok star Sam Ryder, who led after the national juries in 40 countries cast their votes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the victory, Ukraine's third since its 2003 Eurovision debut. He said "we will do our best" to host next year's contest in the devestated port city of Mariupol, which is almost completely occupied by Russian forces.

In describing the city, Zelenskyy e underlined "Ukrainian Mariupol," adding: "free, peaceful, rebuilt!"

"I am sure our victorious chord in the battle with the enemy is not far off,″ Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram messaging app.

Kalush Orchestra's front man, Oleh Psiuk, took advantage of the enormous global audience, last year numbering more than 180 million, to make impassioned plea to free fighters still trapped beneath a sprawling steel plant in Mariupol following their performance.