Leleka and Andriy Danylko meet at Eurovision 2026
Just before the Eurovision 2026 final in Vienna, Ukrainian singer Leleka—who represented Ukraine at the event—finally met acclaimed performer Andriy Danylko in person. Although they had spoken before, this was their first face-to-face encounter. During the meeting, Leleka mentioned she lacked in-ear monitors for her performance and asked Danylko for help. Upon hearing this, Danylko decided to support his younger colleague and gave her a pair of in-ear monitors as a gift.
Leleka’s reaction
Commenting on the gesture, Leleka said:
“Andriy Danylko is the best in the world. You know, you can ask someone for help, and they’re like: Oh, we don’t know. Good luck, we’ll wave Ukrainian flags for you. I called Andriy, and he said: Yes, that’s not right. I’m giving them to you. And he gave me in-ear monitors.” - Leleka
She also stressed that the high-quality monitors would make singing easier: “And I will sing well, you know why? Because I can hear myself clearly. Why? Because I have expensive monitors. Why? Because this man paid for them.”
In addition, Danylko supported Yaroslav Dzhus, who performed alongside Leleka, by sponsoring the custom production of a bandura for him. The instrument was made individually in record time, highlighting Danylko’s efficiency and willingness to help. A photo from the meeting also shows Inna Bilokin standing next to Leleka and Danylko.
It’s worth noting that the 70th anniversary Eurovision stage also featured performances by Ruslana and Verka Serduchka, adding even more emotion and significance to this important event for Ukrainian culture.
This encounter between Leleka and Andriy Danylko underscores the importance of support and mutual assistance within the Ukrainian music scene, especially in the context of international competitions like Eurovision. Danylko’s gift not only solved a practical issue for Leleka but also demonstrated solidarity across generations of artists—an example that may inspire others to collaborate and support one another in their creative work.
In addition to his generous support for Leleka, Danylko's influence in the Eurovision scene is further highlighted by her impressive performance. Notably, Leleka garnered the highest number of likes in the second semi-final, showcasing her growing popularity and talent. This momentum is crucial as she heads into the final, resonating with the spirit of collaboration and excellence in Ukrainian music.