Ukraine will select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in a live event hosted from a bomb shelter in Kyiv.
The UK is hosting the song contest in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine, which came in first place this year.
The grand final of Vidbir, Ukraine’s national selection competition will take place on Saturday December 17 at a location in the capital.
The country’s national broadcaster UA:PBC has received nearly 400 songs from 299 participants, all hoping to replicate Kalush Orchestra’s success in Turin, Italy.
Pianoboy, the Ukrainian music producer overseeing the selection process, said he wanted to discover “new outstanding creative names and make people feel touched and good about this music”.
He said: “I must say, which is quite unexpected for me, this job is based on psychology because you have to raise musicians from sort of a bottom, motivate them.
“A lot of musicians that you will hear at Vidbir made a song to be heard at Vidbir probably because of this Vidbir and, again because of it, resumed doing music.
“I see my function in this and I am very happy about it." The long-list of participants is expected before the end of October.
The UK is hosting the 2023 contest after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) concluded it could not safely organise the event amid the Russian invasion.
The UK entry Sam Ryder placed second with his effort, Space Man, with Kalush Orchestra winning overall following a symbolic show of public support.
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Liverpool has until May 13 to prepare for the grand final, which will be held at the 11,000-capacity M&S Bank Arena on the city’s waterfront.
