'Saturday Night Live' Opens with Emotional Performance from Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York - Watch Now

Saturday Night Live decided to skip their normal funny cold open for an emotional performance.

On Saturday (February 26), cast members Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong took to the stage to introduce the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York.

Click inside to watch the performance…

The chorus then gave a performance of “Prayer for Ukraine” on the Saturday Night Live stage amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

In front of the chorus, was a table full of candles that spelled out “KYIV.”

This marks a rare occurrence to skip their usual funny cold open skit, opting for a serious note after a major world event.

In SNL‘s first episode after 9/11 back in 2001, featured then-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani standing with New York police officers and firefighters, and musical guest Paul Simon singing “The Boxer.”

After former President Donald Trump won the election back in 2016, Kate McKinnon took to the stage dressed up as Hillary Clinton and played Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah” on the piano.

Several Ukrainian celebrities have spoken out about the Russian invasion and you can see what they said here.