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The German chancellor and former defense minister received paintings created in the darkness and cold of Ukrainian blackouts

24/ 02/ 2026
  As part of the large-scale Café Kyiv event, which has been held in Berlin for the fourth consecutive year in support of Ukraine, the founder and director of the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, Yuliana Onishchuk, drew the attention of German politicians to the critical state of the Ukrainian energy system through a symbolic artistic gesture.   A gift to German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was a show of solidarity. The politicians received works by renowned Ukrainian illustrator Sergiy Maidukov, entitled “Kyiv in January 2026. Beloved, cold, unwavering,” signed by the author.  These paintings have become visual evidence of life in the Ukrainian capital under conditions of continuous energy terror. Maidukovs works capture the aesthetics of a city plunged into darkness but still alive, emphasizing the contrast between the cold of blackouts and the inner warmth of Ukrainians.  The artist created this painting in his studio at a temperature of only four degrees Celsius. This is our life now: no water, no heat, no electricity for 72 hours straight. This war must be stopped. Europe and Ukraine must win. And this is only possible if Germany and Ukraine stand side by side. Together, we can better protect our skies, restore the power grid faster, and build a safe and peaceful future for the peoples of Europe, said Yuliana Onishchuk.  Participation in Café Kyiv was part of the foundations broader international campaign. In particular, Energy Act for Ukraine, in collaboration with Artists Support Ukraine, presented the global art exhibition Shadow of the Night, which is currently opening in Washington, San Francisco, Vienna, London, Berlin, and Lewis, Canada.  The exhibition uses a Ready-to-Print format, which allows the world to respond instantly to events in Ukraine through culture. The project has a clear charitable goal: to raise funds for a hybrid solar station (30 kW) for the Zvenyhorod Intensive Care Hospital. This equipment will ensure the autonomous operation of operating rooms and intensive care units in the Cherkasy region even during complete blackouts.   * * * For reference:   The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation provides renewable solar energy solutions for hospitals, water utilities, and schools affected by Russian aggression in Ukraine as part of the “100 Solar Schools”, “50 Solar Hospitals” and “Solar Water Utilities” campaigns.  The foundation installs hybrid solar power plants with energy storage systems for social and critical infrastructure facilities to ensure access to education, the ability to provide medical services even during power outages, and to promote positive change on the path toa sustainable future. The foundation strives to instill a culture of conscious consumption of natural resources in the Ukrainian nation. That is why the foundation conducts a training course on “Sustainable Development and Green Energy” for children, raising their level of knowledge aboutsustainability and energy sources and instilling ecological habits to bring Ukraine closer to a green future. About 2,000 children have already completed the course. The foundation received recognition at the National Charity Ukraine competition in 2024 and 2025, was awarded the Green Initiative of the Year award in Brussels in 2023, is a member of the European Solar Energy Association Solar Power Europe, the UN GlobalCompact Energy Initiative, and, since early 2024, has been part of a consortium of environmental organizations implementing the Renewable Energy Sources project in Ukraine. If you have any questions about the activities of the charitable foundation, please contact Kateryna Babych, PR Manager Energy act for Ukraine Foundation  [email protected]   063 308 19 56   Website, Linkedin, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram

As part of the large-scale Café Kyiv event, which has been held in Berlin for the fourth consecutive year in support of Ukraine, the founder and director of the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, Yuliana Onishchuk, drew the attention of German politicians to the critical state of the Ukrainian energy system through a symbolic artistic gesture.  

A gift to German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was a show of solidarity. The politicians received works by renowned Ukrainian illustrator Sergiy Maidukov, entitled “Kyiv in January 2026. Beloved, cold, unwavering,” signed by the author. 

These paintings have become visual evidence of life in the Ukrainian capital under conditions of continuous energy terror. Maidukov’s works capture the aesthetics of a city plunged into darkness but still alive, emphasizing the contrast between the cold of blackouts and the inner warmth of Ukrainians. 

“The artist created this painting in his studio at a temperature of only four degrees Celsius. This is our life now: no water, no heat, no electricity for 72 hours straight. This war must be stopped. Europe and Ukraine must win. And this is only possible if Germany and Ukraine stand side by side. Together, we can better protect our skies, restore the power grid faster, and build a safe and peaceful future for the peoples of Europe,” said Yuliana Onishchuk. 

Participation in Café Kyiv was part of the foundation’s broader international campaign. In particular, Energy Act for Ukraine, in collaboration with Artists Support Ukraine, presented the global art exhibition Shadow of the Night, which is currently opening in Washington, San Francisco, Vienna, London, Berlin, and Lewis, Canada. 

The exhibition uses a Ready-to-Print format, which allows the world to respond instantly to events in Ukraine through culture. The project has a clear charitable goal: to raise funds for a hybrid solar station (30 kW) for the Zvenyhorod Intensive Care Hospital. This equipment will ensure the autonomous operation of operating rooms and intensive care units in the Cherkasy region even during complete blackouts.  

* * *

For reference:  

The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation provides renewable solar energy solutions for hospitals, water utilities, and schools affected by Russian aggression in Ukraine as part of the “100 Solar Schools”, “50 Solar Hospitals” and “Solar Water Utilities” campaigns. 

The foundation installs hybrid solar power plants with energy storage systems for social and critical infrastructure facilities to ensure access to education, the ability to provide medical services even during power outages, and to promote positive change on the path toa sustainable future.

The foundation strives to instill a culture of conscious consumption of natural resources in the Ukrainian nation. That is why the foundation conducts a training course on “Sustainable Development and Green Energy” for children, raising their level of knowledge aboutsustainability and energy sources and instilling ecological habits to bring Ukraine closer to a green future. About 2,000 children have already completed the course.

The foundation received recognition at the National Charity Ukraine competition in 2024 and 2025, was awarded the Green Initiative of the Year award in Brussels in 2023, is a member of the European Solar Energy Association Solar Power Europe, the UN GlobalCompact Energy Initiative, and, since early 2024, has been part of a consortium of environmental organizations implementing the Renewable Energy Sources project in Ukraine.

If you have any questions about the activities of the charitable foundation, please contact Kateryna Babych, PR Manager Energy act for Ukraine Foundation 

[email protected]  

063 308 19 56  

Website, Linkedin, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram

This material is provided by a member company or partner organization of the European Business Association as part of an informational collaboration. The Association is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. The views, opinions, and recommendations expressed in this material are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the official position of the European Business Association.

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