The Christmas carol “Shchedryk” – widely known around the world as “Carol of the Bells” – was performed in the turbine hall of a DTEK thermal power plant destroyed by russian attacks. The event took place inside the damaged energy facility and served as a public appeal to international partners, urging them to strengthen support for the restoration of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Shchedryk” is one of Ukraine’s most renowned musical compositions, written in the early 20th century by composer Mykola Leontovych. In the 1920s, it was performed by Ukrainian choirs in the United States and Europe before becoming internationally known as “Carol of the Bells”. Holding the performance during the Christmas season was intended to highlight the conditions under which Ukraine’s power system has been operating for a fourth consecutive year — under constant attacks and with extensive destruction of generation facilities and grids. The event aimed to document the real state of energy assets and draw attention to the sector’s urgent need for funding, equipment, and protection.
“During the full-scale war, Ukraine’s energy sector has suffered systemic and large-scale destruction. We are investing significant resources to restore thermal generation and coal mines, but stable operation of the power system requires enhanced and long-term support from international partners — both for restoration and for the protection of critical infrastructure,” said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK.
The performance was part of DTEK’s broader efforts to engage international governments, financial institutions, and partners in supporting Ukraine’s energy sector. This includes funding for emergency and major repairs, supplying spare equipment, and strengthening the protection of energy facilities against further attacks. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, DTEK’s thermal power plants have been attacked more than 210 times. In 2024, the company lost around 90% of its thermal generation capacity, most of which was later restored. In the first ten months of 2025, DTEK invested €285 million (UAH14 billion) in restoring thermal power plants and coal mines, including €161 million dedicated directly to repairs of thermal power stations.
