ukraine

We invited a small group of Ukrainian photographers and gave them carte blanche to send one image with a few words about why they shared this image. These are their responses.

We would like to emphasize that this feature is in support of the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian artists, free from any political agenda.

These images were sent in March. They represent a moment in time, what the artists felt at that time, what they saw and what they wanted to share.


©Maxim Dondyuk / Der Spiegel

maxim dondyuk

War lets loose all the destructive forces of mankind against itself. What kind of insanity is this? War takes any meaning and breeds emptiness, which burns everything leaving just ruins. War cripples human souls, it cripples human bodies, destroys buildings, and harms nature. There are no winners and no losers. All that remains are destruction, pain, suffering. It puts an unforgettable footprint on everything that touches.

maxim dondyuk
@maximdondyuk


 mikhail palinchak

A bullet hole in the windshield of a civilian van that was shot in the center of the city, Kyiv.

mikhail palinchak
@mpalinchakphoto

©Mikhail Palinchak


©Sofiya Chotyrbok

 sofiya chotyrbok

I took this picture a few days ago while the news kept throwing up news about my country. (FYI, we received the image March 17, see-zeen)
On February 24th my life turned upside down. I remember the anguish, the first images, the few sure news, the thousand phone calls between tears and my screams of anger. I've been looking at the clear sky where I live for more than 20 days and I feel guilty towards my population.
So, childishly, I built a shelter from reality.

@sofiyacho


 viacheslav poliakov

All my projects lost their meanings on 24th of February 2022. The photo I share is just a pink picture to grab attention.
I was born in 1986. I mostly missed the Soviet Union, I grew up in the middle of its rotten remains. It was ok, I never knew there is another way to live.
When I left the post-soviet world for the first time — I stood in the middle of a busy square almost crying. I saw a crowd of random people enjoying their lives. Well-dressed, good looking, without constant disgust stamped on their face. I've read what Russia has done to itself and to my country in the past, but the illustration simply crushed me.
The time has passed, lots of things have changed since. I've never had any interest in Russia. I missed the fact that they never left their bloody Gulag.

viacheslav poliakov
@viacheslav.poliakov

©Viacheslav Poliakov


© Sergey Melnitchenko

 sergey melnitchenko

Young and free? – This is a question for the whole generation, for the generation of millennials, which, under existing conditions, is on the forefront and should take responsibility. Now there is a decisive transition from the point of uncertainty to the formation of a long-term vector. You can fall into the trap, take as a basis the ideals created by the predecessors and again crash. Or make a choice, while maintaining your right to freedom of opportunity.

sergey melnitchenko
@sergey_melnitchenko


 elena subach

The Central part of Lviv is nothing short of an open-air museum. And then, there is also a proper open-air heritage museum and numerous landmarks scattered across the city — most of them are concentrated in Western Ukraine. Our city is unrecognizable now. The monuments and stained glass have been covered with scaffolding, sheet steel, plastic wraps, and other makeshift protection to prevent damage to them. Some items of cultural value cannot be hidden in bomb shelters, the survival of numerous churches and other landmarks in the public spaces is a matter of luck and competent specialists’ concern.
Nobody knows how much time we have left.

See more by Elena Subach in A Visual Dialogue in issue #8 and in collab:co-op in issue #9

elena subach
@elenasubach

©Elena Subach


©Nazar Furyk

 nazar furyk

Today, Ukrainian volunteer's movements are enthusiastically talked about in many countries all around the world, calling this phenomenon unique. The heyday of volunteering in our country came during the Revolution of Dignity and the beginning of the war in Donbass. In an extremely difficult period, this movement united society and created an effective structure of public organizations.
In 2014 The Revolution of Dignity made it possible to defend rights, freedom and values of Ukrainians. This aim was defended by Ukrainians. And for this purpose they give their lives today, fighting against the Russian occupiers. We are also united by faith and confidence in our country and in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And the memory of our Ukrainian Heroes feats.v

nazar furyk
@nazarfuryk