Photos from Russia's Intervision song contest created after exclusion from Eurovision

MOSCOW (AP) — Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc won the inaugural Intervision song contest in Moscow taking home 30 million rubles, approximately $360,000 U.S. dollars.

The music contest was created by presidential decree after Russia’s exclusion from the Eurovision contest.

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Kazakhstan's Yernar Sadirbayev (Amre) lies in a cloud of smoke as he performs the song "Steppe Light" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian singer Klava Koka performs after the competition program at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Kenya's Sanaipei Tande performs the song "Flavour" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Ethiopia's Netsanet Sultan performs the song "Song of Love" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

United Arab Emirates's Saif Alali performs the song "A Call for Peace" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Tadjikistan's Farrukh Hasanov performs the song "Burn!" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Madagascar's Denise & D-Lain performs the song "Tiako Hanjeky" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

India's Rauhan Malik, 2nd left, performs the song "Love" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Serbia's Slobodan Trkulja performs the song "Three Little Roses" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Belarus' Nastya Kravchenko performs the song "Motylok" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Uzbekistan's Shohruh Mirzo Ganiyev performs the song "Milliy Terma" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

South Africa's Mzansi Jikelele group performs the song "Home" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Cuba's Zulema Iglesias Salazar performs the song "Guaguanco" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

South Africa's Mzansi Jikelele group performs the song "Home" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc performs at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Fans of Vietnam's Duc Phuc watch his performance at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc performs at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses participants and spectators of the International Music Competition "Intervision" via video link at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russia's SHAMAN performs the song "Straight to the Heart" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc, center, the winner of the International Music Competition "Intervision" and other participants sing at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc celebrates after winning the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Participants of the International Music Competition "Intervision" sing together at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc celebrates with his trophy after winning the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

More Images

Kazakhstan's Yernar Sadirbayev (Amre) lies in a cloud of smoke as he performs the song "Steppe Light" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian singer Klava Koka performs after the competition program at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Kenya's Sanaipei Tande performs the song "Flavour" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Ethiopia's Netsanet Sultan performs the song "Song of Love" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

United Arab Emirates's Saif Alali performs the song "A Call for Peace" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Tadjikistan's Farrukh Hasanov performs the song "Burn!" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Madagascar's Denise & D-Lain performs the song "Tiako Hanjeky" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

India's Rauhan Malik, 2nd left, performs the song "Love" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Serbia's Slobodan Trkulja performs the song "Three Little Roses" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Belarus' Nastya Kravchenko performs the song "Motylok" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Uzbekistan's Shohruh Mirzo Ganiyev performs the song "Milliy Terma" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

South Africa's Mzansi Jikelele group performs the song "Home" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Cuba's Zulema Iglesias Salazar performs the song "Guaguanco" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

South Africa's Mzansi Jikelele group performs the song "Home" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc performs at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Fans of Vietnam's Duc Phuc watch his performance at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc performs at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses participants and spectators of the International Music Competition "Intervision" via video link at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russia's SHAMAN performs the song "Straight to the Heart" at the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc, center, the winner of the International Music Competition "Intervision" and other participants sing at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc celebrates after winning the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Participants of the International Music Competition "Intervision" sing together at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vietnam's Duc Phuc celebrates with his trophy after winning the International Music Competition "Intervision" at the Live Arena outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The Nigerian army said Sunday it freed 360 people abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno, in the northeastern part of the country.

The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains which form a part of the militant group’s stronghold. It resulted in the release of several people, including children, who had been abducted across different communities in Borno.

Two infants “succumbed to exhaustion" due to the challenging mountainous terrain and the hardship they endured during their prolonged captivity, an army spokesperson, Haruna Sani, said.

“The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group,” Sani said.

Nigeria faces a complex security crisis, especially in the north where a more than decade-long insurgency and the activities of armed groups that carry out kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining have heightened the country’s security challenges.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province.

Last month, the West African country said its joint operation with the United States had killed 175 ISWAP fighters.

The insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, according to the United Nations. Analysts say not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens, despite repeated promises by President Bola Tinubu to curb the crisis.

Photos from Russia's Intervision song contest created after exclusion from Eurovision