On April 21, DTEK Grids and authorities of the Kyiv region opened a #LightOvercomesDarkness sculpture in the Irpin Central Park. It is dedicated to energy workers, who were restoring power to the Kyiv region after de-occupation in the spring of 2022 and it symbolizes victory of light over darkness, Ukraine over the enemy.
A year ago, in April-May 2022, DTEK Grids energy workers from Kyiv region, Odesa region, Dnipropetrovsk region and the city of Kyiv, joined efforts to restore power supply in the Kyiv region after its de-occupation. This became the largest repair of grids in the history of modern Ukraine. DTEK project: #LightOvercomesDarkness talks through art about heroic work of electricians in the spring of 2022.
Oleksandr Fomenko, DTEK Grids General Director:
“In the conditions of war, DTEK continues to protect energy security of Ukraine on a daily basis. Restoration of the Kyiv region is a victory of light over darkness and one of the steps that brings Ukraine closer to Victory in the war. Here, in the Kyiv region, for the first time ever, DTEK Grids energy workers united in one big team in order to restore what was destroyed by the enemy. In the same way, as a united front, we have then restored energy infrastructure in Lviv, Kherson, Donetsk regions, etc. Today, we opened a contemporary art object – a symbol of DTEK faith in the future of energy industry, Kyiv region and Ukraine. As we plan not only to restore the destroyed grids but build a Smart Grid – grids of the future, in the Kyiv region in the first place.”
A #LightOvercomesDarkness sculpture is installed in the city of Irpin, where about 70% of grids were destroyed during occupation. In 45 days, DTEK electricians restored power supply to the city and to the entire region, allowing to resume normal life of the region.
Oleksandr Markushyn, mayor of Irpin:
“I am incredibly happy that a ceremonial opening of the #LightOvercomesDarkness sculpture took place in the hero city of Irpin, as the first victory of the AFU over russian troops happened exactly in Irpin. You were working round-the-clock, risking your own lives under fire, repairing the energy system of Ukraine, so that we could live and work with power and heat supply, believing in Victory! Thank you, warriors of light»!
A heroic work of energy workers is now etched in memory through art. It was done with the help of a contemporary Ukrainian artist, Les Panchyshyn. Through his paintings, he shares knowledge about Ukraine and indomitable Ukrainians with the world at the exhibitions in USA, Europe, etc. Les directs the money raised from the sale of his paintings to support the Ukrainian army.
Les Panchyshyn, contemporary Ukrainian artist:
“I have devoted my art to the theme of war in order to support all our heroes, who defend our country on the front, including the energy one. I saw pictures on social media of energy workers restoring power to the Kyiv region after de-occupation. The hard and dangerous conditions they work in. I was impressed. I felt infinite gratitude to these courageous people. This is why I have joined the project of creating a contemporary art object to engrave in memory a feat of Ukrainian energy workers.”
#LightOvercomesDarkness sculpture represents work of DTEK electricians, who were working on a car lift, repairing grids, destroyed by hostilities, in the Kyiv region in spring of 2022. It is a work of contemporary art with application of real equipment that energy workers were using during power restoration. A futuristic design of the sculpture guides into the future. DTEK energy workers believe that just like light overcame darkness, Ukraine will win this war and a bright and peaceful future awaits Ukrainians.
Complete information about #LightOvercomesDarkness project and a mini documentary about transformation of energy workers’ heroic work into art are available at the DTEK website. There is a sign installed near the sculpture with a brief description of the project and a QR code with a link to the project website.
DTEK Grids expresses gratitude to everyone who took part in the implementation of the #LightOvercomesDarkness project. Especially to the resident of Irpin – sculptor Bohdan Slynko, who helped make and install the sculpture.
Let us remind that on May 18, DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids specialists have restored 100% of electricity to the Kyiv region, liberated from the occupants. Over the course of 45 days, energy workers have restored electricity to homes of 260,000 families in 600 settlements, restored almost 10,000 kilometers of lines, destroyed by shelling, repaired and energized 71 high-voltage substations and almost 3,000 transformer substations.
