12-Year-Old Orphan from Volyn Denied Entry to National Selection for Junior Eurovision

Possibly because of his performance of the song “Smuglyanka”.

Twelve-year-old orphan Maksym Tkachuk had his application to the national selection for the children's Eurovision cancelled, even though he led the online casting of contestants. This is reported by Strana.

The video of the boy performing the song “Jamaica” in Ukrainian was removed from the YouTube channel of the national selection for the children's Eurovision. Before it was deleted, it had collected more than 12 thousand likes. This guaranteed Tkachuk's participation in the national selection, while his rivals had far fewer likes.

Larysa Volodymyrivna
grandmother of Maksym Tkachuk

I was hinted that it was because of the song “Smuglyanka”. No one from the channel called me or explained anything. I would like to ask them to tell me personally why. The child received more than 12 thousand votes and more than 30 thousand views. If it's true that it's because of “Smuglyanka”, then I don't know, then our country is simply finished.

The boy's grandmother said that he was very upset. He is being comforted with the words that it would have been much more hurtful if he had gone and not won anything.

The story of the song “Smuglyanka” and Maksym Tkachuk began back in spring 2020. At that time, Tkachuk performed this song at a prestigious competition in London and won awards in 3 nominations. However, on social media the boy began to be insulted and called a “propagandist of the Russian world”. His teachers and relatives were called “traitors” and “scumbags”.