For Ukraine, Eurovision has always been more than a music contest — it is an opportunity to present the country and culture on the international stage. However, not all popular performers have had the chance to step onto the main European musical podium.
Some names surprise the public: artists who have achieved success in Ukraine and beyond have faced bureaucratic restrictions, internal selections, or political circumstances that have closed the door to the contest.
The national selection for Eurovision, which is traditionally one of the most anticipated musical events of the year, is this year under threat of cancellation, but not all popular artists are allowed to participate. The reason lies in the strict requirements outlined in the contest rules: performers who have performed in Russia after the annexation of Crimea and the start of the war in Donbas are not allowed to enter the national selection.
However, theoretically, these rules can be changed, as everything depends on the organizers of the contest – Public Broadcasting. If the requirements are softened, many public favorites will have every chance to represent Ukraine on the main stage of Europe.
Ukrainian Stars Who Definitely Won't Go to Eurovision:
DOROFEEVA
Once, Nadia Dorofeeva performed in Russia with "Vremya i Steklo," even at a children's camp, where the phrase about "our country" was heard. The artist has long been helping the army and raising funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the national selection rules are strict – any tours in the aggressor state after 2014 automatically close the path to the contest.
MONATIK
Dmitry Monatyk admits that he performed in Russia after 2014 – at that time, the show business "was living on inertia." After 2015, the artist clearly stated his pro-Ukrainian position and no longer traveled to the occupying country. However, even these old performances leave him only the role of a spectator, not a participant in Eurovision.
Vitaliy Kozlovskiy
The artist performed in Moscow at the May 9 concert in 2018. He explained it as a tribute to his veteran grandfather, but he could not avoid backlash. Although now Vitaliy Kozlovskiy has regained the public's love, the national selection rules do not change – a trip to the Russian Federation after 2014 puts a cross on his chances. By the way, the singer previously said that he was "forced to sing in Russian."
MARUV
Anna Korsun won the national selection in 2019 but refused to sign a contract due to tours in Russia and rights to the song. After the full-scale invasion, MARUV continued to work in the Russian market, so her path to Eurovision is now definitively closed.
Anna-Maria
The Opanasyuk sisters participated in the national selection in 2019, but due to their evasion of a clear answer to the question "whose Crimea," they lost the trust of the audience. Later, they called the peninsula Ukrainian, but since then they have not been invited to big stages, and the road to Eurovision is closed for them.
Alina Pash
Alina won the national selection in 2022, but the scandal over her trip to Crimea from Moscow overshadowed all plans. The singer was disqualified, and Kalush Orchestra left Ukraine and brought victory. Pash now lives abroad and continues to create, but she will not be returned to the national selection.
Nastya Kamenskikh (NK) and Potap
Still as part of the duo "Potap and Nastya," she performed in Russia, and Potap even thanked the aggressor country from the stage. Although NK has been working solo for many years and supports Ukraine, past performances in Moscow cannot be erased – the rules do not forgive such "travels."
Svitlana Loboda
The singer, who represented Ukraine at Eurovision in 2009, actively built her career in Russia for many years after 2014. Despite her public condemnation of the war and powerful volunteer activities now, her years of work in the Russian show business make participation in the national selection impossible under current rules.
Dakooka
Another artist whose participation in the national selection is highly questionable due to a scandalous history is singer Dakooka (Ekaterina Yeremenko). She not only continued her professional activities in the Russian Federation after 2014 but also became known for her controversial statements regarding relations between the countries. Despite the fact that the singer recently announced her intention to apply for participation in the selection, her past has provoked harsh criticism, and she is unlikely to pass the selection under current requirements.
