The ethno-band DakhaBrakha has released a lullaby for Ukrainian children stolen by Russia
The ethno-band DakhaBrakha presented the lullaby “Dytyatochko,” which the musicians dedicated to Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The song was recorded against the backdrop of the monumental installation “Black Cloud,” which was displayed at the Burning Man festival 2025, UP. Zhyttia reported with reference to Ksenia Anniuk, the communications officer for the Black Cloud project.
Director Hanka Tretyak explained that she wanted to convey the idea behind the song dedicated to the abducted children. She noted that the images of a cradle, an ominous cloud, red apples, and the musicians’ wandering served as an artistic interpretation of this tragedy.
Band frontman Marko Halanevych worked on the video sequence and animation. The video serves as an artistic manifesto drawing attention to the theme of stolen childhood. The “Black Cloud” is described as a symbol of the threat hanging over children, while DakhaBrakha’s music represents the voice of those unable to protect themselves.
As of November 20, 2025, Ukrainian law enforcement bodies have received about 20,000 statements regarding the abduction or forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Some of them were illegally adopted in the Russian Federation, while others are held in 43 “re-education” camps.
Russians killed at least 668 children and injured more than 2,200 Ukrainian children during the full-scale war.
The Black Cloud installation was first shown in June in Kyiv. Later, it was sent to the United States for Burning Man.
“Black Cloud” is 30 meters long, 17 meters wide, and 15 meters high, weighing 7 tons. The work’s creator is artist Oleksii Sai, and the producer is volunteer and former Deputy Minister of Defense Vitalii Deineha. This is their second joint installation for the festival.
To provide background, on the first day of Burning Man in the Nevada desert, a storm destroyed the Ukrainian “Black Cloud” installation, which symbolizes the global threat of a new world war.
