Moment Ukrainian girl, 13, refuses to perform at prestigious UNICEF singing competition after finding out a Russian boy was allowed to participate
- Sofia Samoliuk has won a number of awards for her singing across Europe
- She chose not to perform at the event in Italy yesterday, but to give a speech
A teenager from Ukraine refused to share a stage with a Russian contestant yesterday ahead of her performance at a UNICEF singing contest in Italy.
Sofia Samoliuk, 13, withdrew from the Sanremo Junior festival yesterday after learning that Kirill Yezhov would be taking part.
The organizers had announced the participation of the Russian hours before the game – but Sofia waited and gave a speech.
She said, “I can’t sing on the same stage with a representative of the terrorist state.
“I truly believe that the terrorist country will be gone next year. Please stay with Ukraine.’
The singer walks down the stairs with a piece of paper in hand and prepares to speak
Thirteen-year-old Sofia was already known for winning her 11-13 year old vocalists category at the Black Sea Games in 2021
In the video, a presenter introduces the performers on stage to sing.
Sofia takes her aim and starts with a pre-prepared speech in English.
She addresses the audience: ‘I’ve decided I can’t sing today. I discovered that there is a participant from Russia – the state that has already murdered more than 500 Ukrainian children.”
On April 3, charity Save the Children confirmed the number of children killed in Ukraine had passed 500 since the start of the Russian invasion.
They added that at least one child has been killed in Ukraine every day since February 2022, based on their analysis of UN data.
At least 991 were injured in the violence – mainly due to explosive weapons hitting large areas.
During the fighting in the south and east of the country, children in Ukraine spent an average of 38.3 days in underground bunkers last year.
In her speech yesterday, Sofia thanked the audience for their understanding and said she believes the “terrorist country” will not be [appearing].
Audience members are heard to applaud as she bows.
The singing competition in Italy is organized by UNICEF, a charity that works to protect the rights of children.
It is an international competition for solo singers aged six to fifteen.
Separately, the Ukrainian Judo Federation also said this week that Ukrainian judokas will not compete in the World Judo Championships in Qatar between May 7 and 14 due to the International Judo Federation’s decision to take back Russians and Belarusians.
The IJF said the decision to take back Russians and Belarusians as neutrals would allow them to compete in qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The body said it will conduct background checks to flag athletes who support the invasion of Ukraine or who have been contracted by the military in any way.
Sofia addresses the audience and says she will not perform together with a Russian ‘representative’
Award winner Sofia was supposed to perform as a singer at the Sanremo Junior festival yesterday
Thirteen-year-old Sofia was already known for her victories in her vocalists category aged 11-13 at the Black Sea Games in 2021.
She went on to win the ‘Grand Prix’ at the United Kids Children’s Festival in Bulgaria – the first prize chosen by the jury.
MailOnline contacted Sanremo Junior for comment.