Victor Pinchuk Foundation presented the project ‘Ukraine: Future’s Frontline’ in Davos, on the occasion of WEF 2026

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation and the PinchukArtCentre, in cooperation with the Office of the President of Ukraine, presented the project ‘Ukraine: Future’s Frontline’, which combines an exhibition and a discussion program, on the occasion of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

As part of the exhibition, works by Ukrainian artists Oleksii Sai, Yarema Malashchuk, and Roman Khimey were presented, alongside Damien Hirst’s The Incomplete Truth. The exhibition addresses the risk of war spreading to Europe while stressing the need for peace through strength. A portrait of Ukraine at the frontline of innovation as well as the best line of defence for Europe’s future. 

Among the participants of the project’s opening were: Victor Pinchuk, Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist; Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine; Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and Yevhen Hrytsenok, Senior Officer of the Electronic Warfare Department, 7th Air Assault Corps. Moderator: Bjorn Geldhof, Artistic Director, PinchukArtCentre.

Victor Pinchuk, Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist, in his speech said: “I have the privilege to see our Ukrainian soldiers, and heroes, close to the front line. Each time I see them, they are not complaining about how hard it is to fight.  Their main priority is innovation. They are happy to talk about innovation, their inventions – something new and efficient. They are proud to show their new inventions. After three months, it is already not new enough, or efficient enough.”

“When I visited underground shelters – it looked like a command centre for spaceships. This is really new. Ukrainian soldiers understand if they want to survive they have to innovate faster than our enemy.

“I want to say to our partners and friends; we need you. It will be much more difficult without you. It is very important for us that you are strong, and you are safe.  That is why we want to tell you that you need to innovate. You have to be much faster.

One of the artists of this exhibition said we must “Change or die”. This is one of the main messages of this exhibition. We wanted to show through AI generated video of drone attacks on some European cities, including Davos. It is terrible to see. We wanted to show you real Iranian and Russian attack and we are ready to shut this down.

Last night we had a massive attack on Ukraine by Russia with more than 370 missiles and drones in Ukrainian skies. Around 340-42 of these missiles intercepted, that is 90% didn’t hit their targets but some did. This is huge. In Kyiv more than 5,600 houses with no electricity, many without water during this cold Ukrainian winter.  

Swiss authorities didn’t even want us to show this – we didn’t get permission to show this one body. Maybe it is a trend in the West, in Europe, to protect your psychology and protect you from the terrible visuals and videos. But I believe it is better for you. It is better for you to see the drones here and to be scared and to change something in your attitude and change your speed.

“Our message to you, our Great Western European friends, act as Ukrainians. Do change as Ukrainians and let’s win together.”

Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, thanked everyone who continued to support and communicate about Ukraine: “Our current experience is embedded into the agenda of all politics, technologies and businesses. This is very serious, there are no abstracts. We must change or die. 

Referencing the Futures Frontline exhibition, Taras Kachka stated: “Hypothetical things such as the attacks on European cities by Russian drones is not hypothetical. We have seen unknown drones in European skies – it happens. We need to use this experience of survival and use it to defend ourselves.

All Ukrainian experiences stem from existential experience and existential things. This art exhibition shows that everything is real.”

Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland: “We need hope for a genuine peace and it needs to happen immediately. We have seen overnight, more large-scale attacks on civilian infrastructure by Russia in several cities in Ukraine.  It is beyond horrendous, and shows the whole world who is responsible”

“I can assure you that European countries support Ukraine, and are working on common defence and deterrence which will in the long-term aid Ukraine and the freedom and the liberty of the people.”

Yevhen Hrytsenok, Senior Officer of the Electronic Warfare Department, 7th Air Assault Corps: “Thank you for the opportunity to speak and stand here. My unit the 7th Air Assault Corps are currently covering the Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad which happens to be most of the crucial and heavily targeted parts of the front line.

“As we speak many of our soldiers are fighting for their lives to secure safety for my homeland. I am from Kyiv. Russia landed a strike with drones, with aerial bombs on my hometown, my motherland. The target they picked with schools, hospitals and kindergartens. This shows that Russia has no plans for peace right now.”

“The development of technology is the main priority for the armed forces of Ukraine. It is about detecting them, and preparing to save lives. We saw the drones which entered Polish airspace last year. It shows Europe is not ready for them. We are asking you for help to develop our technologies to continue fighting.”

The project ‘Ukraine: Futures’ Frontline’ took place on 19-22 January, 2026, on the occasion of #WEF2026 in Davos as part of a broader series of Ukrainian events designed to amplify Ukraine’s voice, highlight its resilience, and foster a dialogue on the future of the country and global security.

‘Ukraine: Future’s Frontline’ is a platform exploring our future security, prosperity and global position. Our future is shaped in Ukraine: Ukrainians defend their sovereignty and Europe’s security. And in this fight, Ukraine must be at the cutting edge of innovation. Of the competition that will determine tomorrow’s world. Ukrainians develop cutting edge drone technology, AI, and redefine standards for military and civilian technologies.

The project “Ukraine: Future’s Frontline”, organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in partnership with PinchukArtCentre and the Office of the President of Ukraine.

More information about the project “Ukraine: Future’s Frontline” is available at www.ukraineindavos.org

Photos are available here 

Video is available here  www.youtube.com/user/PinchukFoundation/

The Project ran at Promenade 59, space shared with Ukraine House Davos.

Ukraine House Davos is organized by Victor Pinchuk Foundation, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund and Horizon Capital.

In 2024, Ukraine House Davos, featuring the Deciding Your Tomorrow exhibition organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, was named ‘Best Pavilion’ by POLITICO. The exhibition in Davos 2024 featured a stunning map of Russian war crimes, as well as the screens showing TikTok videos by Ukrainian bloggers about people living their lives, finding joy, love and moments of happiness despite constant threat.