Polina Dashkova (singer)

Polina has been singing and dancing since early childhood. From the age of 3 to 15, she danced in the Ensemble of Folk Dances «Україна».[5] In 2016, she participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with the song «До Бога» (English: "To God").[6][7] The music video for this song was posted on the popular YouTube channel ELLO.[8] She also took part in «Музична платформа 2016» in Kyiv.[9] In September 2019, she performed at a concert in memory of Mykola Mozghovyi.[10] In March 2021, she participated in the Easter performance «Хресна дорога» at the International Children's Center «Артек» (English: "Artek").[11] In the summer of 2021, Polina performed at the children's festival «Чорноморські ігри».[3] On February 7, 2022, she performed at the «Врятуй дитяче життя» (English: "Save the Children's Life") charity dinner in Kyiv.[12]

Before the start of the full-scale invasion, Polina began work on her debut single «Плакала Калина» (English: "Crying Kalina"),[13] but was not able to release it until April 7, 2022.[14] Along with it, two remixes of this song by Shnaps and Slavko were released.[15][16] The track gained considerable popularity, and was repeatedly streaming on the radio and showing up in charts.[17][18] As of September 10, 2023, the total number of views of the song on YouTube exceeded 10 million.[19] Later, the singer underwent tactical military training, encouraging Ukrainians to undergo it as well.[20] On July 23, 2022, Polina performed at the charity marathon concert «У єдності – сила» (English: "Unity is strength") in Kyiv.[21] On October 13, the singer released the song «Хустинка» (English: "Handkerchief"), dedicated to the defenders of Ukraine, whom their girls will definitely be waiting for,[22] as well as a music video for it.[23] On November 27, she performed the national anthem of Ukraine at the «Футбол заради перемоги» (English: "Football for Victory") charity game in Uzhhorod, and also played a football match with other show business stars and Ukrainian football players.[24] She has also repeatedly participated in charity events organized by «Амбасадор дитинства» (English: "Ambassador of Childhood"), in Kyiv,[25] Khmelnytskyi,[26] Uzhhorod,[27] Lutsk,[28] Ivano-Frankivsk and other cities in Ukraine.[29]

In January 2023, the singer performed for the residents of the liberated Balaklia as part of the «Разом!» (English: "Together!") association movement.[30] On March 1, the track «З тобою спокійно» (English: "I'm calm when I'm with you") was released together with the singer Dima PROKOPOV.[31] As of September 10, 2023, the track ranked 99th in the «Top 100 Music Videos Ukraine» category on YouTube.[32] On March 4, 2023, she performed at the «Пророки Перемоги» (English: "Prophets of Victory") charity art event for the anniversary of Taras Shevchenko's birthday.[33] On March 18, she performed at the charity music festival «Braveua Fest» in Kyiv.[34] On April 7, she performed at the «Музика війни» (English: "Music of War") charity concert in Kyiv,[35] and on April 21 at a charity concert in Warsaw, where funds were collected to help refugees from the occupied territories.[36] On May 10, she performed at the concert of the singer Ptashkin as a special guest.[37]

Also in 2023, Polina made it to the finals of the national competition «Українська пісня» (English: "Ukrainian Song"), where she performed in Lviv on June 17.[38] On July 18, the singer released the song «Знаєш, мамо» (English: "You know, mother") and the music video for it.[39] The video, according to the singer, was shot from one take.[40] On August 16, the singer was nominated for the Muzvar music award in the category «Найкращі нові імена естради» (English: "Best new pop names").[41]