LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Ukraine Entry TVORCHI performs on stage during The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final at M&S Bank Arena on May 13, 2023 in Liverpool, England.
During Saturday's round of the Eurovision Song Contest, May 13, Russian missiles opened fire on the city in Ukraine, which is the home of the country's representatives.
Ukrainians Are Constantly at Risk
According to The Guardian, British Ambassador to Ukraine Dame Melinda Simmons said that the university town of Ternopil, home to electronic music duo Tvorchi, was among the venues attacked by Russia.
On Twitter, Simmons said, "Meanwhile, this #Eurovision night Ukraine is under another Russian missile attack. Reminder that the reason why [Ukraine] could not host this event is because [Russia] continues to invade and the people of [Ukraine] live in continuing danger."
Simmons complemented the Ukrainian participants in the song contest by saying that Tvorchi definitely won the prize for graphics as the staging was very clever. However, she added that it was "poignant as their university home town of Ternopil was targeted by [Russian] missiles."
Two persons were injured, according to a Telegram post by local officials, which also said that the strike had damaged commercial and religious organizations' storage facilities.
This week, Tvorchi stated their intention to bring awareness to the struggle for independence in their nation.
Ukrainian army had made gains in the eastern city of Bakhmut earlier on Saturday. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar claimed that forces are approaching from both the north and the south of Bakhmut but that the situation in the city center is more complex.
Malyar said via Telegram, "The enemy is not able to take control of the city."
Also Read: Ukrainian Catholic Church Makes History With First UK Listing Ahead of Eurovision
A Talk With Pope Francis
Separately, on Saturday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pleaded with Pope Francis to support Kyiv's peace proposal. The Pope signaled the Vatican would assist in the safe return of Ukrainian youngsters abducted by Russians.
While in Rome, the Ukrainian president met with both Italian leaders, President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during his daylong visit.
Zelenskiy, who was in Rome for the first time since the conflict broke out, had a 40-minute conversation with the Pope and gave him a bulletproof vest that had been worn by a Ukrainian soldier and decorated with a picture of the Madonna.
According to a Vatican source, the assertion that Zelenskiy and the Pope discussed "humanitarian gestures" in private indicates that the Vatican is prepared to offer help with the return of Ukrainian children.
Following his conversation with the Pope, Zelenskiy tweeted, "We must make every effort to return them home."
Since February 2022, Kyiv claims that there have been almost 19,500 children illegally deported to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea.
Kyiv has proposed a 10-point peace proposal, and the Ukrainian president has claimed he requested the Pope to "join" in on it.
"I asked to condemn Russian crimes in Ukraine. Because there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor," Zelenskiy said in his tweet.
Also Read: Russia-Ukraine War: UK's Shadow Missile Supply Game-Changer for Kyiv
