Exhibition “Iron People” in Kyiv
In the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II has launched a multimedia exhibition titled «Iron People». This exhibition honors the bravery and dedication of Ukrainian railway workers amid the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development, Oleksiy Balesta, attended the opening event.
The «Iron People» exhibition showcases the stories of over 176,000 employees of “Ukrzaliznytsia” who, despite the dangers of war, continue to facilitate transportation, evacuate civilians, and restore damaged infrastructure.
The project is led by Dutch photographer and documentary filmmaker Jelle Krings, who has traveled across Ukraine since the onset of the war, documenting the perilous work of railway workers and their personal stories. His award-winning photographs and videos are being presented in Ukraine for the first time as a multimedia exhibition.
«The railway represents more than 175,000 individuals who, despite the risks and shelling, maintain stable railway connections. Behind these images are real people who keep our country moving every day. Their professionalism and courage form the foundation of our resilience. I thank the author for allowing visitors to see what usually goes unnoticed», noted Oleksiy Balesta during his speech.
The exhibition features photographs, audio accompaniment, and a short documentary film titled «Lifeline», which tells the story of Tetiana Vislohuzova, the head of an evacuation train that became a lifeline for thousands of residents in frontline regions.
This exhibition is the culmination of the international project «Iron People: War and Life Along Ukraine’s Railway Lines», aimed at showcasing the resilience, humanity, and courage of Ukrainian railway workers, the individuals who keep the country moving forward even in the most challenging times.
The event was supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine and attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Alle Dorhout.
