Activists from the German civil society organisation Vitsche are installing an art installation in central Berlin and holding a march to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day. The events aim to draw attention to the everyday reality Ukrainians continue to face amid Russia’s war of aggression and highlight the link between protecting Ukraine’s civilian population and ensuring European security, the organisers said.
From 10 a.m. on 24 August, a large protective net has been suspended over Pariser Platz near the Brandenburg Gate. The installation reflects a familiar sight in many Ukrainian frontline cities and along critical roads, where protective nets are stretched over streets and public spaces to shield civilians from drone attacks.
An exhibition beneath the net presents the stories of civilian victims of the so-called “human safari” – a deliberate form of Russian drone attacks targeting ordinary people.
The protective netting in the installation is used to illustrate the contrast between two realities. While in Germany the sky is most often associated with the weather and everyday life, for people in Ukraine it has become a source of constant danger.
The organisers emphasise that the most effective protection is not netting but preventing attacks in the first place, through air defence systems and technologies that protect civilians before the threat reaches them. Therefore, a protest march is scheduled from 18:30 to 20:30, running from Potsdamer Platz to Pariser Platz and highlighting that such protection is a central component of European security.