Karol, who represented Ukraine at Eurovision 2006, replaces Dmytro Shurov, who was at the helm for the last two editions of Vidbir.
Former Eurovision star joins selection team
Tina Karol is no stranger to Vidbir or to Eurovision. She represented her country in 2006 with “Show Me Your Love” – finishing 7th in Athens, and has twice served as a member of the selection’s jury, in 2020 and 2022. Speaking to UA:PBC she said: “I’m thrilled to join the National Selection team and support both new talents and returning artists. I’m sure we’ll see many talented performers this year, which we’ll make sure to showcase in the best way possible. See you at Vidbir 2025!”
Ukraine’s Head of Eurovision delegation, Oksana Skybinska paid tribute to Karol’s predecessor, Dmytro Shurov, and also spoke of her excitement to have her on board:
“We are very grateful to Dmytro for his years of successful work. His unique vision and musical talent helped us to discover new stars and achieve great results on the international stage. Together, we take pride in TVORCHI’s 6th place at Eurovision in Liverpool and the outstanding success of alyona alyona & Jerry Heil, who earned 3rd place in Malmö, Sweden.
“This year, we are excited to have Tina Karol in our team. As one of Ukraine’s most well-known artists, she brings a lot of experience in producing and supporting young talents. Her own experience at Eurovision gives her deep insight into the competition, and her expertise and musical intuition will help us choose an artist who will proudly represent Ukraine on the international stage,”
Vidbir submissions open next week
Whilst announcing Karol’s appointment, UA:PBC also confirmed that applications for the contest will open next week, and will be accompanied by the announcement of new details regarding the participation conditions and the selection process.
What is Vidbir?
Yevrobachennia. Natsionalnyi Vidbir, Informally known as “Vidbir”, Ukraine’s national selection has been around since 2016, when it picked a Eurovision winner–Jamala’s “1944”–right off the bat. It’s a small selection with generally between six to ten entries competing each year, and is traditionally held in February. Vidbir features a three-person jury panel, and this year an online vote as well.
Ukraine’s Eurovision Journey
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has scored nine top-five placements, with an extra four top-ten finishes. Ukraine won the Contest three times – in 2004, 2016 and 2022 respectively. Ukraine made history for being the first ex-Soviet country to win the Contest more than once.
In 2024 alyona alyona and Jerry Heil represented Ukraine in Malmö with their song “Teresa and Maria”. The duo finished in 3rd place, scoring 453 points – of which 146 points came from the jury, whilst the remaining 307 points came from the televote.
What do you make of the appointment? What artists would you like to see in Vidbir next year? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2025!
News Source: UA:PBC
Photo Credit: UA:PBC
Giwrgos Oiko 
Samantha