The team of Milan photographer Luca Bruno, Milan correspondent Colleen Barry and Rome video journalist Paolo Santalucia capped AP’s spotless coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin with an exclusive the day after the contest as the winning band, Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, bid a tearful goodbye to Italy, returning to Ukraine to fight for their homeland.
With contributions by reporters in Ukraine, the AP team delivered outstanding Eurovision coverage from Day One, including an all-formats interview with the band ahead of the competition, a setup story by Barry, and Bruno’s coverage of the band’s surprise visit to a Turin flash mob event three days before the contest finals.
Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine sings their song “Stefania,” which has become an anthem to their homeland, during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, May 14, 2022.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk stands among fans during a flash mob event at the Eurovision Village in Turin, Italy, May 11, 2022, supporting the the band before the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Oleh Psiuk, frontman of Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, and his girlfriend Oleksandra leave their hotel in Turin Italy, May 15, 2022, the morning after winning the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest. The band members were returning to Ukraine, leaving family and loved ones in Italy during the war. Oleksandra carrries the band’s trophy.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Oleh Psiuk, frontman of Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, right, and vocalist Sasha Tab prepare to leave their Turin, Italy, hotel the morning after winning the Eurovision Song Contest, May 15, 2022.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Vocalist Sasha Tab of Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra embraces his wife Yuliia Slobodianyk and their sons Solomon and Kaya in Turin Italy, May 15, 2022, as he prepares to return to Ukraine the morning after winning the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Tab’s wife and sons are staying in the Turin area with an Italian host family after evacuating Ukraine.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine performs “Stefania” during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, May 14, 2022.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra celebrates after winning the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, May 14, 2022.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra celebrates after winning the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, May 14, 2022.
AP Photo / Luca Bruno
But it was the exclusive day-after coverage that truly set AP apart from the competition. Using his local contacts, Bruno had found the modest guesthouse where the band was staying. He and Santalucia arrived at the hotel to find Kalush Orchestra with the Eurovision trophy in one hand, his luggage in the other. The AP pair captured Psiuk kissing his girlfriend goodbye and vocalist Sasha Tab in an emotional embrace with his wife Yuliia and two children, who fled Ukraine a month ago and are living with an Italian host family as band members return to Ukraine, where adult men under 60 are required to stay and fight the enemy.