The Voice Ukraine Final takes place at the Kiev Metro Station/Air Raid Shelter

The final of the Ukrainian version of The voice took place on Sunday in an underground metro station in Kiev that also serves as an air raid shelter.

Ukrainian broadcaster TET aired the grand finale of its 12th season, which audiences have been waiting for since the Russian invasion began in February and the show was suspended.

Sunday’s final took place 75 meters underground at Maidan Nezalezhnosti on Kiev Square, a metro station closed since the war began and instead used as a bomb shelter, venue and even a venue for an interview with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to Ukrainian 1+1 media, 16 countries, including the US, have expressed their support for the show, which was won by folk singer Maria Kvitka. Other finalists included Olya Polyakova, Potap, DOROFEEVA and the team of Second Chance national coaches Andrii Matsola and Oleksandra Zaritska. There was also an appearance by a Ukrainian doctor recently freed from Russian captivity.

Volodymyr Zavadyuk, 1+1 media head of major shows, said two months of preparation had gone into the final, which draws power from a generator in a city constantly plagued by blackouts.

“Despite the missile attacks and the continuation of the full-scale cynical war, we remain steadfast in our desire to give our nation’s voice a chance to be heard and the participants to take action and raise the morale of Ukrainians with a song support.” added: “We tried for Ukrainians to have light in their souls in the darkest night.”

Ukraine’s television and film industry has struggled to function over the past nine months, but many innovations have kept it going. Film.UA’s studio doubles as a bomb shelter, and the trade organization/indie set up a $20 million Ukrainian content club to attract money from foreign buyers.