A powerful windstorm destroyed the Ukrainian art installation “Black Cloud” at the annual Burning Man festival in the United States, just hours after its completion.

The 7-ton, 30-meter-long structure, designed as a visualization of the threat of a coming world war, stood for less than a day.

“Today was the first and last day of ‘Black Cloud,'” wrote the installation’s producer and volunteer Vitaliy Deynega on social media.

The Ukrainian team spent the entire night assembling the installation. After 11 hours of work, they completed the structure and began receiving initial reactions, which Deynega described as “more than inspiring.”

“I was confident in the success of this work from the very beginning. And I wasn’t wrong: people came from all corners of the desert to see one of the largest and strangest objects that grew overnight,” Deynega said. “The installation definitely didn’t leave anyone indifferent. This was supposed to be a success no less than our last year’s work – I’m Fine. But then came the apocalypse.”

According to Deynega, a sudden powerful wind arose after 5:30 PM the same day, completely destroying the installation. Despite calculations showing the structure should have withstood such weather conditions, the storm proved too powerful.

“Despite the fact that on paper and according to calculations it should have withstood even such a storm, it turned out differently. It held the wind for the first 15 minutes, and then it was torn in the middle, the storm flew inside and destroyed it completely,” the producer explained.

Deynega drew parallels between the installation’s destruction and his personal experience of war, stating: “The last time I had such a feeling was exactly three and a half years ago, when I woke up to the first explosions and sirens and realized that external circumstances of insurmountable force decided to make adjustments to life.”

The installation was scheduled to remain at the festival for nine days. The destruction also affected planned European tour dates, with locations and dates already confirmed, according to the producer.

The “Black Cloud” installation was first presented in Kyiv at the square near St. Sophia’s Cathedral. Ukrainian artist Oleksiy Say created the construction, which weighed seven tons and measured 30 meters in length.

In comments to Ukrainska Pravda Culture project creators explained that the installation aimed to communicate with the outside world about the coming world war, which the artist believes has already begun.

“Unfortunately, I am convinced: war in the world will only grow. There are many reasons for this – from unresolved global problems to the latest technologies that every country seeks to use to solve its own long-standing ambitions,” Deynega said. “And if, or rather when, a new wave of wars begins – Black Cloud can become a cult work that is ahead of its time.”

American director Woody Allen joined Russia’s premier film festival via video link this weekend, appearing at the Moscow International Cinema Week as Russian forces continue killing Ukrainian civilians and cultural figures in the ongoing war.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry delivered a sharp rebuke in response, calling Allen’s participation “whitewashing Russian crimes” and an insult to Ukrainian filmmakers killed or injured in the conflict.

“By taking part in a festival that brings together Putin’s supporters and voices, Allen chooses to turn a blind eye to the atrocities Russia commits in Ukraine every single day for 11 years now,” their statement reads. 

The ministry then declared: “Culture should never be used to whitewash crimes or serve as a propaganda tool.”

Allen joined Saturday’s “World Cinema Legends” session, where Russian director Fedor Bondarchuk conducted the interview, according to Russian news agency Afisha Daily. 

The conversation revealed Allen’s longstanding connection to Russian culture. He told the audience he had watched the nearly seven-hour Russian film “War and Peace” in a single day and recalled meeting Sergei Bondarchuk, Fedor’s father and the renowned Soviet director, in New York years earlier.

Allen also detailed his three previous visits to Russia. His first trip during Soviet times left him with a “gloomy” impression, but later visits proved more positive.

“We came to St. Petersburg. Went to the ballet, walked through museums, I liked everything. From there we moved to Moscow,” he said.

The conversation took an uncomfortable turn when Bondarchuk asked about potential film projects in Russia. Allen dismissed previous rumors but left the door open:

“If such offers existed, I would sit down and think about what the script could be about how good you feel in Moscow and St. Petersburg.”

The festival also featured other international participants, including Serbian director Emir Kusturica, who has publicly supported Putin’s policies and the military action in Ukraine, and American actor Mark Dacascos, known for roles in “John Wick 3” and “Brotherhood of the Wolf.”

88-year-old Allen, whose career spans over 50 films, has won four Academy Awards from 16 nominations. The director has faced industry scrutiny in recent years following allegations from his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, who accused him of abuse in 1992.

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