Jamala, winner of Eurovision 2016, received the “Order of Princess Olga” from President Volodymyr Zelensky during Ukraine’s Independence Day in Kiev. The award highlights her contribution amid the ongoing war.
The Ukrainian singer Jamala, winner of Eurovision 2016, was among those honored by President Volodymyr Zelensky at Ukraine’s Independence Day ceremonies held yesterday in Sofia Square, central Kiev. The artist was awarded the “Order of Princess Olga”, Third Class – a distinction given to women in Ukraine for personal achievements in public, industrial, social, scientific, educational, cultural, and other fields.
Joy Mixed With Sorrow
“It was wonderful and unexpected to receive an award on Independence Day. It is a mixture of joy and sorrow at the same time, because among those honored are women receiving this award posthumously”.
The singer wrote on social media:
“We live in a reality where every day carries a heavy price that continues to grow, because every day we lose our people. We must thank our defenders for protecting this independence. Glory to our defenders”.
This statement comes against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, ongoing for more than three years, and serves as a poignant reminder of the grave cost of life under war.
הצגת פוסט זה באינסטגרם
The Price of War
Due to the war, Jamala was forced to leave Ukraine and relocated to Istanbul, Turkey. Following her Eurovision victory in 2016, numerous threats were made against her and her family, and her name was placed on “blacklists” in Russia.
Despite this, Jamala continues to stand alongside Ukraine, representing her homeland on the international stage. The honorary award represents the Ukrainian government’s recognition and gratitude for her ongoing dedication and advocacy for the country.
Jamala at Eurovision
Jamala represented Ukraine at Eurovision 2016 with the song “1944”, centered on the deportation of the Crimean Tatars by the Soviet Union. She drew particular inspiration from her great-grandmother’s story, who, in her mid-20s, was deported with her five children to Central Asia; tragically, one of the daughters did not survive.
At the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, the song placed second in the semi-final. In the grand final, it went on to win first place with 534 points – despite finishing second both in jury votes, with 211 points, and in televoting, with 323 points. This marked Ukraine’s second Eurovision victory.
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 2026: This will be Ukraine’s 21st 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.
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Neta Geffen is a respected journalist at Euromix, Israel’s leading news site for Eurovision coverage. Since 2010, Neta has been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing with him extensive experience, profound knowledge, and a broad understanding of the history, politics, and cultural influences that shape the event every year.
Neta publishes articles, analyses, and up-to-date reviews on all Eurovision developments, including musical trends, format changes, political influences, and audience reactions across Europe and Israel. Thanks to a deep connection to the contest’s history, Neta provides readers with wide-ranging context—from the impact of political events on results, to in-depth analyses of songs and languages within the competition. Neta specializes particularly in the Eurovision rock genre, Balkan ballads, and native language entries, with a special focus on Italian and Greek songs.
