The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014. Initially, the conflict was regional, involving separatists supported by the Russian government and the Ukrainian military. However, in 2022, Russia escalated the situation with a full-scale, brutal invasion, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. From the outset, I have been documenting the war, but rather than focusing on the front lines and direct confrontations, I chose to highlight the everyday lives of those profoundly affected by the conflict. Over the years, I have observed significant political and social changes in the country, as well as the remarkable resilience and determination of its people, qualities that were previously unseen.
At the beginning, I worked on both sides of the conflict, concentrating on the border areas of the DPR and Ukraine. On one side, there was a palpable nostalgia for the perceived glory days of the USSR, while on the other, there was a fervent aspiration towards integration with the European Union. Despite witnessing numerous events, I found it difficult to comprehend how an arbitrary line on a map could define one's identity. This boundary suddenly transformed family members living in nearby villages into residents of different countries or, more accurately, a state and a parastate. Some family members consumed Ukrainian news, while those just 15 kilometers away were exposed to Russian propaganda. However, when stripped of national symbols, colors, and flags, the everyday reality on both sides appeared strikingly similar. I observed firsthand how societies become tools in political machinations, leading to tragic consequences.
War doesn't always manifest in expected ways. While my photographs may depict scenes that seem normal, the reality is far from it. War is also a silent everyday presence, its subtle but constant echo permeating every aspect of life. This multidimensionality allows us to grasp the full spectrum of life in Ukraine, where hope and determination coexist with the horror and uncertainty of conflict.