After Estonia, Ukraine is also in turmoil: Kateryna Pavlenko, lead singer of Go_A and Eurovision 2021 representative, was removed from the Eurovision 2025 jury panel due to a violation of contest regulations.
Kateryna Pavlenko, the lead vocalist of Go_A and Ukraine’s representative at Eurovision 2021, has been removed from Ukraine’s jury panel for Eurovision 2025 following a breach of the European Broadcasting Union’s voting rules. The decision, made at the request of the EBU just before the voting phase of the Eurovision Song Contest, has stirred strong reactions among fans in Ukraine and across Europe.
Pavlenko’s disqualification, after being chosen by the public to serve as a juror, underscores the EBU’s strict commitment to fairness in the judging process. She has been replaced by Natela Chkhartishvili-Zatsarinna, the producer of music channels M1 and M2, in order to maintain gender balance on the panel. This intriguing decision is notable, as the specific reason for Pavlenko’s removal has not been disclosed.
Earlier today, a similar incident was reported when Alika, Estonia’s Eurovision 2023 representative, was also dismissed from her country’s jury for a rules violation. These two removals highlight the Eurovision Song Contest’s emphasis on transparency, objectivity, and fairness—even when it comes to well-known and respected artists within the Eurovision community.
Background, Significance, and Reactions in Ukraine
Pavlenko, who brought Ukraine a fifth-place finish at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Shum,” is considered a beloved and respected figure in Ukrainian pop culture. The decision to remove her was made following an official request from the EBU, but the details of the violation have not been made public—fueling curiosity and discussion around the case. The replacement on the jury panel has sparked lively debate on social media, especially regarding the choice to maintain gender balance, even if the new juror was not next in line in terms of votes.
Last-minute jury dismissals are rare but essential for maintaining public trust. Many Eurovision fans expressed disappointment that such a popular figure as Pavlenko was unable to participate in the voting, while music industry experts emphasized the importance of fairness and adherence to regulations—even at the cost of losing prominent names.
Ukraine at Eurovision 2025
“Bird of Pray” is the name of the song that was performed by Ziferblat, representing Ukraine in Eurovision 2025. Ukraine qualified for the final from the first semi-final of the contest and finished 9th overall with 218 points. Ukraine finished 6th in tele-votes and 14th in jury votes.
The Ukrainian result is their worst one since 2018.
Eurovision 2025: This was Ukraine’s 20th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Ukraine joined the competition in 2003 and has won it three times. Ukraine’s last victory was in Eurovision 2022 with the song “Stefania” performed by Kalush Orchestra.
