Svyatoslav Vakarchuk performs for DTEK power engineers at destroyed power plant after Ukraine’s hardest winter

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, frontman of the Ukrainian band Okean Elzy, has held an impromptu rock concert inside the engine room of a thermal power plant that was almost completely destroyed by russian missile attacks – highlighting his support for DTEK engineers keeping lights on across the country.

"I visited one of the power units of the plant hit by a russian missile, where I supported our energy workers through word and song. They are real heroes. Risking their lives, under constant attack from russian shaheds and missiles. They are doing everything possible to ensure that our homes have light and warmth. It was especially poignant to sing in such conditions. Let's move forward together!", Vakarchuk said.

The performance coincided with the end of the most difficult heating season in the country’s history, due to the intensity of russian attacks during the coldest winter in more than 15 years.

"We have gone through the most difficult winter in the history of the Ukrainian energy sector. Despite the unprecedented attacks, DTEK's power engineers survived, ensured the stable operation of the system, and proved their professionalism and dedication. The end of this heating season is the result of the daily selfless work of thousands of people," said Oleksandr Fomenko, CEO of DTEK Energy.

Since the beginning of the full‑scale invasion, DTEK’s thermal power plants have come under attack more than 220 times. To repair large‑scale damage and support the stability of Ukraine’s power system, DTEK has so far invested UAH 4.2 billion (€83 million) in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

Overall, since the start of the full‑scale invasion, DTEK owner Rinat Akhmetov has allocated €860 million for the urgent restoration of infrastructure destroyed by russia.