Performers exploit devastating war to boost their popularity

Performers exploit devastating war to boost their popularity

The outbreak of the Ukraine war has ushered in a distasteful and swiftly spreading trend, where many try and exploit the devastating conflict to boost their popularity. The war has caused huge devastation, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced, or killed on the front line.

WORLD FEBRUARY 17. 2023 18:38

In an earlier article, V4NA pointed out that

singing about war may bring victory at the Eurovision contest.

Croats could win the Eurovision Song Contest with Mama SC, a song mocking the relationship between Russia and Belarus. More than half of the votes on a website dedicated to news and odds regarding the contest were cast for the Croatian performer, so it’s easy to imagine that, similar to last year’s Eurovision contest, the winner will be decided on political grounds. Besides the Croat band called Let 3, the Ukrainian group also stands a good chance of winning the title.

This year, Ukraine will be represented by TVORCHI, an electric duo founded in 2018. The two members are Andrii Hutsuliak from Ukraine, and Jimoh Augustus Kehinde from Nigeria (who will take centre stage at the Eurovision contest as the singer). The duo says their song dubbed Heart of Steel warns of the dangers of nuclear warfare.

The lyrics was written during the siege of the Azovstal steel factory, so the men of “heart of steel” directly represent those holding out in the factory, and those defending the country in a broader sense.

Last year, the Ukrainian entry won the song contest, which meant that Eurovision 2023 would be hosted by Ukraine, but due to the war, the United Kingdom – finishing in second place in last year’s contest – took over as the event’s organiser. The contest will take place in Liverpool in May, and it is already clear that generating sympathy for Ukraine is an integral part of the concept. The stage was designed to represent a wide hug to Ukraine.

During the devastating war which claims countless casualties, there’s a Russian actor too, who tries to take advantage of the situation and boost his popularity.

Comedian and host Max KomikaZe has gained a huge social media following, especially after he started making fun of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

That said, the war in Ukraine is not a parody. The losses are inconceivable, as hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have already lost their lives in the clashes.

Although the exact number of soldiers killed is not known, in recent weeks US and European officials have repeatedly discussed the type of death toll figures the warring sides can expect.

According to estimates

some 180-200 thousand Russian and some 100 thousand Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the war.

Speaking on Norwegian TV, General Eirik Kristoffersen – the country’s defence chief – came up with an estimate: he said the death toll and number of injuries on the Russian side have reached 180 thousand, while the Ukrainians have lost 100 thousand people.

Meanwhile, according to US and other Western officials, the number of Russian soldiers killed and wounded in Ukraine is „approaching 200,000”.

The already high number of casualties rose amid particularly fierce fighting in and around the eastern city of Bakhmut. US officials told the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal that the number of casualties could exceed 100 in certain single days in this region alone.

According to a UN report published at the end of January, the war has claimed 18 657 civilian casualties since last February: 7110 people died and 11547 people were injured.

The war is also wreaking havoc in towns and villages, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and many homes made uninhabitable or razed to the ground.

WORLD

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eurovision, ukraine, war