Ukraine’s iconic Christmas carol “Shchedryk” was performed at one of DTEK’s heavily damaged thermal power plants as part of a public appeal urging the international community to strengthen support for Ukraine’s energy sector amid ongoing Russian attacks.
“Shchedryk” is a traditional Ukrainian New Year’s carol composed in 1916 by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych, based on a much older folk chant. The song tells the story of a swallow that flies into a household to announce prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.
The melody later gained worldwide recognition after being adapted into the English-language Christmas song “Carol of the Bells,” though its Ukrainian origins date back more than a century. Today, “Shchedryk” remains one of Ukraine’s most recognizable cultural symbols and has taken on renewed significance during the war as an expression of resilience, identity, and hope.
The performance, filmed at the destroyed facility, was organized as part of a joint initiative by DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, and the cultural project Svitlo Concert. The video was released as winter deepens and Ukraine’s power system continues to operate under pressure from repeated strikes on energy infrastructure.
In a statement accompanying the video, DTEK said the performance was intended as a message to the world, highlighting both the scale of destruction to Ukraine’s energy facilities and the resilience of those working to keep electricity and heat available during the war.