’s commentator for 2022 broadcast from a bomb shelter as this year’s competition kicked off.
On Tuesday evening, the first semi-final of the annual extravaganza took place, with 10 countries – including Ukraine, Switzerland, Iceland and Greece – , where they’ll compete against acts including the UK’s .
Ukraine’s entry, hip hop collective Kalush Orchestra, of their song Stefania, having received special permission to participate in the contest amid ’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Back in their home country, Timur Miroshnychenko – the nation’s commentator for Eurovision – was still carrying out his job, while staying safe in a bomb shelter as the conflict continues.
In a post shared on Ukraine’s official Eurovision Instagram account, two photos were shared of Timur, 36, showing him sitting at his desk in the bunker, wearing headphones and ready to type on his laptop.
‘Our commentator Timur Miroshnychenko works from a bomb shelter. We remind you that the broadcast from the commentary studio of the first semifinal of Eurovision will start on May 10, at 22:00 on our YouTube channel “Eurovision Ukraine”,’ the caption read.
Several people left messages of support for Timur in the comments, with one reading: ‘Courage’, and another saying: ‘We care for you with all our hearts.’
‘Our commentator is constant! ❤️ Thank you for your work and that despite the circumstances, you are with us!’ someone told the presenter, who’s provided the commentary for Eurovision for Ukraine for over a decade.
‘Timur, you are the best! Thank you!’ another said.
Some Instagram users explained that the reason he was in the bomb shelter was in case of an air raid, so that he would already be in the bunker, just in case.
Having launched his TV career in 2005 as a commentator for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Timur went on to become the commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest two years later.
He co-hosted the junior edition of the programme in 2009 and 2013, as well as co-hosting Eurovision in 2017.
The second Eurovision semi-final airs on Thursday from 8pm on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.
