Russia barred from entering Eurovision Song Contest following Ukraine invasion

LONDON — The European Broadcasting Union says that Russia will not be allowed an entry in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

The union said in a statement Friday that given the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry would bring the competition into “disrepute.″

“The EBU is an apolitical member organisation of broadcasters committed to upholding the values of public service,” the union said on Twitter. “We remain dedicated to protecting the values of a cultural competition which promotes international exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites Europe on one stage.”

This year’s finale is being held in Turin, Italy, on May 14.

Russia has not yet announced an entrant for the splashy contest.

Ukraine will be represented by Kalush Orchestra, which organizers describe as a “hip-hop band with a fondness for folk.”

Eurovision isn't the only thing impacting Russia.

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Jokerit Helsinki, a Finnish hockey team that plays in the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), announced it won't finish the season following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

The team's decision comes ahead of KHL playoffs that begin next week. They were supposed to play Moscow Spartak on March 1.

"The world is going through really difficult times right now," Jokerit's majority owner/general manager and former NHL player Jari Kurri wrote in statement released Friday. "All our thoughts are with the people suffering from the situation. We hope that a peaceful solution will be found soon."

The crisis has roiled the globe since Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the pre-dawn hours of Moscow on Thursday, announced in a televised address that he was launching a military operation against Ukraine.

International backlash followed swiftly, with sanctions by the United States and a host of other countries. President Biden said the new economic measures would "limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen to be part of the global economy."

The European Union agreed to freeze the assets of Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov along with other sanctions, according to Latvia's foreign minister.

But, so far, those sanctions appear to have had little effect on Russia's attempt to take over the one-time Soviet Republic that has expressed a desire to someday join NATO.

Live updates:Russia hits Kyiv with gunfire, rockets but US says Moscow's momentum has slowed

Contributing: Analis Bailey, Luciana Lopez, Maureen Groppe and Kim Hjelmgaard