Kyiv has unveiled a striking new art installation commemorating the victims of a Russian drone attack on train No. 103 Chop–Barvinkove on January 27, 2026. Official delegations from partner countries visiting the city to show support for Ukraine will be able to view the exhibit, which centers on the specially illuminated wreck of Car No. 5, one of the carriages struck during the attack.
The installation, titled “Pulsating Pain,” was created by Ukrainian lighting designer Mykola Kabluka, founder and art director of the contemporary light art laboratory Expolight Arts. Using light as a medium of memorialization, Kabluka emphasizes the physical scars left by the attack rather than softening or beautifying them. The carriage’s exterior is bathed in cold, jagged, lunar-like light, highlighting deformed surfaces and impact marks. Inside, a contrasting warm red glow pulses slowly, drawing attention to elements that preserve the memory of the tragedy.
On January 27, two drones exploded near the train, and one directly struck a carriage carrying 18 passengers. Six people were killed, two were injured, and around 300 others were saved thanks to the swift actions of the train operators. The installation captures not only the destruction but the haunting moment when the world seems to pause in the face of violence.
“Pulsating Pain” serves as a somber reminder: where there is light of memory, there is no forgetting. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 1,029 railway workers have died, and Russian attacks have damaged 282 passenger carriages, 288 locomotives, and 1,747 freight wagons. The railway system has endured 4,774 strikes on infrastructure and rolling stock yet continues to operate, restoring damaged equipment and maintaining vital transport routes.
The installation aims to convey the ongoing impact of these attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, reminding visiting leaders of the resilience and sacrifices of the Ukrainian people.
About the artist
Mykola Kabluka is a Ukrainian artist and lighting designer who founded Expolight Arts, a contemporary light art laboratory. The laboratory uses light as a medium of meaning and transformation, producing installations, media art, and participatory projects that combine technology, sound, and digital tools with artistic expression. Expolight Arts represents Ukraine internationally, promoting cultural initiatives, fostering collaborations, and helping define a new Ukrainian language of light art.
