Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

Prior to the 2022 Contest, Ukraine had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2003, winning it in 2004 with the song "Wild Dances" performed by Ruslana and in 2016 with the song "1944" performed by Jamala. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Ukraine had managed to qualify to final in every contest they participated in thus far. Ukraine had been the runner-up in the contest on two occasions: in 2007 with the song "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" performed by Verka Serduchka and in 2008 with the song "Shady Lady" performed by Ani Lorak. Ukraine's least successful result had been 24th place, which they achieved, as hosts, in 2017, with the song "Time" performed by O.Torvald.[1]

The Ukrainian national broadcaster, Suspilne, broadcasts the event within Ukraine and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. Suspilne confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest on 18 June 2021.[2] In the past, Suspilne had alternated between both internal selections and national finals in order to select the Ukrainian entry. Between 2016 and 2020, Suspilne in collaboration with the commercial broadcaster STB had set up national finals with several artists and shows to choose both the song and performer to compete at Eurovision for Ukraine, with both the public and a panel of jury members involved in the selection. Suspilne's collaboration with STB would have continued into 2022, however, it was announced on 8 October 2021 that Suspilne would independently organise a national final to select the 2022 Ukrainian entry and requested proposals from production companies with the deadline on 24 October 2021.[3][4]

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) splits up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.