"A Brief Return of Light to the Tunnels of Željava"

On May 16th, 1992, darkness fell over the tunnels of Željava. With one final act of destruction, the lights that once pulsed through this underground giant were extinguished—abruptly, mercilessly. What followed was not just the absence of electricity, but the presence of deep, undisturbed darkness. For decades, the cold concrete corridors remained buried in shadow, untouched by time, light, or memory.

That is, until now.

Driven by passion and reverence, a group of enthusiasts gathered around the Zeljava LYBI initiative set out to do the unthinkable—not to restore, not to rebuild, but simply to reconnect with what was. For a fleeting moment, the tunnels of Željava breathed light again. It wasn’t just a technical achievement. It was a symbolic act—a spark against the silence, a tribute to what once was, and a statement: Željava is not forgotten.

Bringing light back to Željava’s tunnels required vision, precision, and teamwork. Ivica Meglić documented the moment through photography and video, while Marko Grozdanić served as the project manager and lighting technician. They were assisted by Damir and Dalibor Vidović, and Dejan Deželić, who helped execute the installation on-site.

Though the lights are off again for now, this moment proved what’s possible. With the right conditions, Željava may one day be lit—permanently.