Following the exciting news that former Westlife band member Nicky Byrne will be representing Ireland at the Eurovision, you may find yourself wondering: Who will be his competition in Stockholm?

After sitting out on the competition last year due to financial difficulties surrounding the national crisis, the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA Pershyi and its partner STB have announced the dates of their semi-finals: the 6th and the 13th of February. The national final will take place on the 21st of February. The winner will be chosen through a combination of the mixed jury and tele voting.

The well-known composer and producer Konstantin Meladze will be one of the jury members and a producer in the Ukrainian national song selection.

Ukraine has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 12 times, debuting in 2003 with a 14th-place finish for Oleksandr Ponomaryov. Ukraine won the contest at the second attempt when Ruslana won the 2004 contest with “Wild Dances”. The 2005 contest was hosted in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Ukraine has finished in the top ten a total of eight times so they are no doubt going to be stiff competition for Ireland’s Nicky Byrne.

Here are a list of the artists that have expressed an interest in representing Ukraine in Stockholm

Anastasia Prihodko

Ne Angely
Anastasia Petryk
Tanya Bryantseva

Marietta Ways
Vasya Boykova
Anastasia Dobryvecher
Ilya Rud

Alina Starodumova
The Pringlez
Irina Vasilenko
Uli Rud

Tonya Matvienko

Vlad Ulyanich
Aida Nikolaychuk
Natalia Papazoglou
Bila Vezha

The most familiar name on the list hoping to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2016 is that of Anastasia Prihodko. She represented Russia at Eurovision 2009 when it was hosted in Moscow. However she is from Ukraine and when war between both countries erupted she was extremely active in motivating the Ukrainian forces and public – SEE HERE

So who would you like to see in the Ukrainian Eurovision selection process? Comment below!

Guest Author : Hannah White

Source : Eurovision Ireland