‘Fight for Light’ photo exhibition opens in Brussels, telling untold stories from Ukraine’s energy frontline

Last night, DTEK launched ‘Fight for Light’, a new photo exhibition showcasing the untold story of Ukraine’s energy frontline in Brussels. Guests were taken inside the power stations hit by russian missiles, streets cast into darkness and into the lives of people of Ukraine.

Guests from the European Commission, diplomatic corps, media and civil society heard first-hand testimony from DTEK energy worker Oleg, who was working in one of our power station control rooms when russia missiles struck. In graphic detail he described the noise, blast-wave, fire and smoke that engulfed the room, his search for colleagues and months of hard physical work to restore the plant. “This is my way of contributing to Ukraine’s fight against russia,” he told attendees.

One of Ukraine’s most celebrated documentary photographers, Serhiy Morgunov, shared his experience from capturing images of the daily lives of Ukrainians in the darkness. He spoke of their resilience and the vital role of light for all aspects of live.

DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko told guests: “These are not historical photographs, from the last century or something happening far away. They are from 2024 and taken in the middle of Europe. If our partners from the civilised world don’t stand with Ukraine, we will see more like this.

“However I am confident that, very soon, we will be bringing a new exhibition here: pictures of the wind turbines we are building right now; photographs showing Ukraine’s beauty, smiling faces and our people … celebrating victory.”

Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, MEP Pekka Toveri, Chair, Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, and MEP Reinis Poznaks, Member, Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee and Peter Polojnar, Deputy Head of Unit, Economic and Sectoral Policies, Ukraine Directorate, DG NEAR at the European Commission were among the distinguished guests.

The ‘Fight for Light’ photo exhibition can be seen at The Ukraine Civil Society Hub in the EU, Station Europe, Place du Luxembourg in Brussels until 17^th October.