COORDINATORS: OLENA SKYRTA, ALICE YAKUBOVICH Two Ukrainian girls decided to tell the world about their country. Well isn’t that naive? When we came up with an idea to organize a photo exhibit we didn’t have any money or useful connections. Nonetheless we started to look for photographers and photos of Ukraine taken in the past year. We worked on this project for 3 months while living in two different countries (USA and Ukraine). A lot of Ukrainian photographers produce masterpieces but don’t know how to showcase their work. We don’t know how to photograph the way they do but we can gather and print out their work. We have picked out 24 photographs highlighting life in Ukraine in different ways. Displaying one year during which our friends from the capital were opening bars and organizing street food festivals while on the east of the country people were sleeping in the bomb shelters. It was hard to connect war and peace. But such is reality, when a wedding ceremony is accompanied with the gunshot sounds. We want foreigners as well as the Ukrainians who haven’t been back to their home country in a while to see this. Photographs were showcased in Los Angeles and New York City. We did not make any money doing this and did not plan on it in a first place. Just wish after hearing the answer to the question “Where are you from?” people would at least know what continent we are talking about. We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian Culture Center in Los Angels and The Ukrainian Museum in New York for providing venues.
PHOTO PROJECT: UKRAINE 24
WAR & PEACE
PROJECT DESCRIPTION Twenty-four post revolution photo stories depicting last year’s life in Ukraine in the midst of the war, invisible worldwide. Military action and the soldiers’ lives in the “ATO” zone, the Great Gatsby dance show premier, the Ukrainian presidential election, the child refugee camp, the Victory Day school dance on the occupied territory. Ukrainian reality — wedding ceremony in the middle of the open gunfire. Photographs of war and peace painting a full picture of what is happening in Ukraine.
Our project features 13 Ukrainian Photographers Igor Chekachkov, Alexey Furman, Oleksandr Kalinchenko, Julia Kochetova, Serhii Korovainyi, Maks Levin, Sergii Morgunov, Olya Morvan, Vladyslav Musiienko, Roman Pilipey, Oleksandr Ratushniak, Shamil Sakhavatov, Volodymyr Shuvayev.
The Ukranian Museum
International Photography contestants, Members of the Ukrainian Photoartist Union, Photojournalists based in “ATO” zone, artists published in European and American press (New York Times, BBC News)
IGOR CHEKACHKOV
ALEXEY FURMAN
Born 1989 Kharkiv, Ukraine
Born 1991 Kyiv, Ukraine
The foundations of this author’s photography career were laid back in March 2008, when he launched into the field of documentary photography as a photo reporter and photo editor for Mediaport News Agency in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Alexey Furman is a Ukrainian freelance photojournalist currently pursuing his master’s degree at the Missouri School of
After years of working and searching through different fields of photography, the author was led to the enigmatic domain of art photography, which he successfully still explores these days. Individual art photography projects and elaborates of challenges are among the visual ideas that remain the subject of author’s unfailing interest. Chekachkov has worked with Forbes magazine, the Reporter, the Guardian, and National Geographic. He has been a member of the UPHA (“Ukrainian Photographic Alternative”) and the UAPF (“Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers”) groups since 2013.
Journalism on a Fulbright scholarship. He has been covering Ukrainian daily news since 2009. In 2013, he became a frequent contributor to the Ukrainian local edition of National Geographic. When the Ukrainian revolution began, Furman was deeply involved in the coverage, and moved to Crimea and Eastern Ukraine to continue photographing the ongoing conflict for various international outlets. His pictures have been published in TIME, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Al Jazeera America, and the Los Angeles Times.
ALEKSANDR KALINCHENKO Born 1990 Kyiv, Ukraine Alexander Kalinchenko is an independent photographer. He finished his studies at the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics. In 2008, he started photographing for Ukrainian publications, media portals, TV networks, and private businesses. For the last three years, Alexander has been shooting his own photo project and documentary, “The Gypsy People of Ukraine.” His photographs have been published by ICTV (“International Commercial Television”), 1+1 International Media Group, Mainstream Communication & Consulting, Okean Elzy, Tina Karol, Porsche Finance group, Viva, Red Gallery London, Ukraine Fashion Week, among many others.
JULIA KOCHETOVA
SERHII KOROVAINYI
MAKS LEVIN
Born 1993 Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Born 1995 Khartsyzsk, Ukraine
Born 1981 Boyarka, Kyiv region, Ukraine
Kochetova is a Ukrainian freelance photojournalist, a student at the Mohyla School of Journalism in Kyiv, and a member of the “F8” international photo group. Her photographs have been published in the Guardian, Telegraph, Huffington Post, National Geographic, BBC, Bild Am Abend, and other international media outlets. Julia’s works have been shown in photo exhibitions in Ukraine, the United States, Great Britain, and Serbia. She is currently working on a documentary and art project about the war in Donbas.
Serhii Korovainyi studied international economics at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. He has been working as a photojournalist since 2014. He currently covers Ukrainian daily news for the Ukrainian branch of the international media platform Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. He also does business with Ukrainian magazines and websites including LB.ua, Kyiv Post, and Segodnya.ua. Korovainyi has been shortlisted by contests such as Ukraine’s 2015 Photographer of the Year award and the Theo Westenberger Contest. Serhii currently has two ongoing projects about the war between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists in his home region, focusing especially on the social side of the conflict.
Maks Levin works as a staff photographer for LB.ua, one of the leading Ukrainian news platforms. He has been working as a photojournalist since 2006 and was one of the first Ukrainian journalists to stream the 2012 parliamentary elections through a smartphone. Maks was a co-organizer of the exhibition, Maidan: Human Factor, and participates in many shows. He has been photographing the war in eastern Ukraine since its inception.
ROMAN PILIPEY Born 1991 Kyiv, Ukraine
At the beginning of his career, Pilipey worked as a freelance photojournalist for various Ukrainian news agencies and newspapers. Since the Maidan movement in 2013, he began to freelance for the European Pressphoto Agency, covering the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Roman has since joined the European Pressphoto Agency as a staff photographer. He is currently based in Kyiv, where he covers news events and conflicts in eastern Ukraine. His photographic works have been published in major newspapers and international magazines, including the New York Times, TIME, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian, Frankfurter Rundschau, Die Welt, the Irish Times, Stern, and others.
OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK
SHAMIL SAKHAVATOV
Born 1981 Dunayivtsi, Khmelnytskiy region, Ukraine
Born 1989 Kyiv, Ukraine
Ratushniak is a Ukrainian freelance photographer. Originally working in finance, five years ago he decided to change his career to work in the genres of reporting and fashion. He has participated in photo exhibitions in the United States, France, and Germany, with a thematic focus on the Ukrainian Revolution in 20132014, and the military conflict in eastern Ukraine. In the last days of the revolution, while working as a representative of the press, he was shot and wounded in the leg by the police. Ratushniak is currently collaborating with international photo agencies, including AFP (France) and Demotix (UK). Oleksander’s pictures have been published in many newspapers and magazines worldwide. He has held personal photo exhibitions in Kyiv and Odesa (Ukraine), as well as Barcelona (Spain) and Vienna (Austria).
Sakhavatov is a Ukrainian freelance photographer. Although he graduated with master’s degree in foreign-economic relations, he saw himself more as a photographer and a BMX rider. After a couple of years of photography, he found his own style and confidence, and engaged in photography not only as a job, but also as food for his soul. He loves shooting fashion, portraits, lifestyle photographs, and sports. Shamil has said, “Hopefully, all horrible things that have happened in Ukraine lately will lead to a peaceful and better future. All of us can make a difference with our behavior and act to build a new honest and beautiful country.”
SERGII MO Born 1986 Kyiv, Ukraine
Morgunov is a p Ukrainian photo cameraman bas Ukraine with m years of experie and commercia His photograph in recent years focused on Maid unfolding event and Crimea. His displayed in the international ex Maidan. Ukraine (Lille, France), K (Heidelberg, Ge and Wankende (Heinrich Boll S Berlin, German his works have published in Fo and the books, “ - History in the “War Through t TSN.”
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professional ographer and sed in Kyiv, more than seven ence in film al production. hs and videos have been dan and ts in Donbas s works were e following xhibitions: e. Europe. Krimkrise ermany), Grenze Stiftung, ny). In addition, also been orbes, TV Rain, “Euromaidan Making” and the Eyes of
OLYA MORVAN Born 1983 Odesa, Ukraine
Olya is passionate about documentary photography and photojournalism and has been developing her talent since 2012 with Yannick Cormier. Since December 2013, Olya has covered events in Ukraine as a photojournalist for Wostok Press Agency, focusing on the human side of the conflict. Olya’s work has been published in Paris Match, Le Monde, Nouvel Observateur, Revista 2, Liberation, and many other news outlets. Her exhibition Children of Faith by Pondy ART took place in February 2014, in Pondicherry, India.
VLADYSLAV MUSIIENKO
VOLODYMYR SHUVAYEV
Born 1971 Kyiv, Ukraine
Born 1984 Kyiv, Ukraine
Vladyslav Musiienko graduated with a degree in radiophysics and has been a photojournalist since 2005. He has worked as a staff photographer for the daily Kyiv and weekly Glavred newspapers. Since 2012, he has been working for UNIAN Ukraine, the largest news agency in Ukraine. Musienko has been the recipient of various Ukrainian and international competitions, including the shortlist for the 2014 Sony photo awards for his series about the Revolution of Dignity. He has created solo exhibitions in Ukraine and Germany (Nuremberg, Dresden, Leipzig) and has participated in group expositions.
A photojournalist and commercial photographer, Shuvayev has been shooting professionally since the mid-2000s and focuses primarily on general news, events, travel, and business photography. He holds a master’s degree in print and design from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Shuvayev has covered numerous large events, including GogolFEST (the biggest Ukrainian art festival), the Odesa International Film Festival, and the Molodist film festival (the oldest film festival in Ukraine). His pictures have been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and BBC. In 2014, Volodymyr was recognized as the TOP SHOTS photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP). He has also been a featured photographer for Nikon Ukraine.
SHELLING SURVIVOR Larisa, 30 years old, sits on a bed in the corridor of a hospital during a blackout. Her home was destroyed by artillery shelling. Her mother was killed by the shelling.
ALEXEY FURMAN July, 2014 Mykolayivka, Donetsk region
WAITING FOR HELP An elderly woman sits near the Sloviansk City Hall as humanitarian aid from Ukrainian government arrives to Sloviansk.
ALEXEY FURMAN July, 2014 Sloviansk, Donetsk region
A DIFFICULT CHOICE A villager examines a ballot and considers for whom to vote in the presidential elections of Ukraine on May 25, 2014.
ALEXEY FURMAN May, 2014 Orane village Kiev region
PEACE FOR UKRAINE
A Right Sector battalion soldier, nicknamed Zelya, inscribed the words “Peace for Ukraine” with his pistol on a burned out ceiling in a destroyed building.
JULIA KOCHETOVA January, 2015 Peski village Donetsk region
BETWEEN WAR AND PEACE Lysychansk was liberated from the pro-Russian military on July 24, 2014. Shops, schools, kindergartens etc. have been rebuilt. But along with the peaceful life are reminders of the war: the destroyed buildings to which no one will return, and the unceasing roar of shells firing, with the fighting just 30 kilometers from the city.
SERGII MORGUNOV April, 2015 Lysychansk, Luhansk region
SURVIVOR “The German” (nickname) shows his colleague, Alexander Molchanov, the size of the missile from the “Grad” multiple rocket launcher. The missile landed two meters from the trench in which he was sitting, and he suffered a concussion. “The German” was caught by the enemy when his company was moving out of the area, and he spent more than six months in captivity. MAKS LEVIN August, 2014 Ilovaysk, Donetsk region
BASKETBALL AT THE FOREFRONT A soldier in the Ukrainian army’s volunteer battalion “Donbas” plays basketball in the school basement around Ilovaysk. Ukrainian military headquarters were based in the school gym, where improvised operations were conducted. Ukrainians held the city until, due to uncontrolled activity from the Russian side of the border, numerous divisions of Russian troops crossed with heavy weapons. The Ukrainians found themselves surrounded. While moving out of the area on August 29, from 400 to several thousand Ukrainian soldiers perished (estimates of the death toll vary).
MAKS LEVIN August, 2014 near Pervomaisk, Luhansk region
GODS OF WAR Ukrainian machine gunners under artillery fire from militant positions near Pervomaisk, Luhansk oblast.
MAKS LEVIN August, 2014 near Pervomaisk, Luhansk region
THE THIRD IS NOT SUPERFLUOUS Santa Claus and a snow princess greet soldiers at the checkpoints during New Year’s. Local residents donned the costumes to create a holiday atmosphere and to thank the Ukrainian army for liberating their city.
MAKS LEVIN January 2015 Lisichansk, Luhansk region
MUSICIAL ECSTASY Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, vocalist of Ukrainian cult rock band “Okean Elzy,” sings the song “Someone like you” during his “At Night” solo concert. Vakarchuk, a volunteer and benefactor, donates a part of his profits to the Ukrainian army.
OLEKSANDR KALINCHENKO March, 2015 Kyiv
AWAKENING Christian rock band “Kutless” from Portland, USA, who came for a tour around Ukrainian cities.
OLEKSANDR KALINCHENKO May, 2015 Kyiv
FOREST CHECK POINT A camp for displaced children and soldiers. In the summer, children live outside in tents. This girl got sick, and the doctor let her spend the night in the building.
SERGII KOROVAINYI June, 2015 Dimer, Kyiv region
WALTZ Young people waltzing in the occupied city Khartsyzk during a celebration of World War II Victory Day. The holiday is observed noisily with a parade and Communist rally with the new the selfproclaimed authorities, and an evening concert. The city has been occupied by separatists from “Donetsk People’s Republic” since spring 2014.
SERGII KOROVAINYI May, 2015 Khartsyzsk, Donetsk region
THE GAME IS ON Ukrainian soldiers play soccer on the roads in Svitlodarsk. The Minsk accords called for a truce starting on February 15, 2015. President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine ordered the troops to cease fire.
VOLODYMYR SHUVAEV February, 2015 Svitlodarsk, Donetsk region
WEDDING Kyiv military hospital. Paratroopers of the 79th separate airborne brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ruslan Yarosh and Alexander Ponomariov, who were wounded during the ATO (antiterrorist operation), held a double wedding within the walls of the hospital. Both wounded men were bedridden, but this did not prevent them from exchanging rings with their brides.
VLADYSLAV MUSIIENKO July, 2014 Kyiv
MALANKA OR OLD NEW YEAR A local resident wearing a costume attends Malanka, an Old New Year celebration, observed on the 13th and 14th of January. According to Malanka traditions, people dress in costumes, perform short plays, and sing carols from house to house. In Krasnoilsk, which is located just 8 kilometers from the Romanian border, they prepare for Malanka ahead of time, making their own masks and costumes. That night, they break up into 5 groups (for the 5 raions, or districts), and at the end of the festivities the entire group meets up at the central plaza of the village. ROMAN PILIPEY January, 2015 Krasnoilsk village, Chernivtsi region
BALLET GREAT GATSBY. BACKSTAGE Photo UNIAN Ballet warm-up before a performance. The Great Gatsby is a new production in Kyiv, choreographed by American Dwight Roden, and the leading role is performed by the internationally renowned Ukrainian dancer, Denis Matvienko.
VLADYSLAV MUSIIENKO November, 2014 Kyiv
AFTER THE RERFORMANCE Photo UNIAN Information Agency Ballet dancers of The Great Gatsby backstage right after the end of the performance.
VLADYSLAV MUSIIENKO November, 2014 Kyiv
THE NEW POLICE FORCE. DAY ONE The first 2000 patrol police, a new service, took an oath at St. Sophia Square, which is located in the center of Kyiv. They received new uniforms, firearms, and cars with which to police the capital city. A young girl with her policeman father.
OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK July,2015 Kyiv
THE END OF AN ERA Ukrainian activists brought down the statue of Lenin in Kharkiv’s main square. After dismantling a similar statue in Kyiv during the Euromaidan protests, Lenin “disappeared” from nearly all other Ukrainian cities.
IGOR CHEKACHKOV September, 2014 Kharkiv, Ukraine
HALYNA’S HOME Halyna shows her apartment in Pisky on March 17, 2015. She has been living in basement for many months. She has to walk 5 km to fetch water, often in the midst of shelling. Halyna has no plans to leave, and explains her reason for staying: “If I move, the war will follow. It’s better if I wait here.”
OLYA MORVAN March, 2015 Peski, Donetsk region
LIFE GOES ON In a village near Kyiv, an elderly woman leads her goats to pasture. The products from small farms often provide the only source of income for villagers.
SHAMIL SAKHAVATOV June, 2015 Bobritsa village, Kyiv region
WITHOUT ANY WORDS At a rally in Kharkiv, activists raised the national flag in support of Ukraine. Kharkiv is one of the eastern cities where pro-Russian separatists wanted to establish control.
IGOR CHEKACHKOV March, 2014 Kharkiv, Ukraine
Project managers Alice Yakubovich Olena Skyrta Editors Alona Vykydanets Lesia Bakalets Alex Kaminsky Michael Iosyfovych Designers Halyna Medvedieva Natasha Kristian Contact us ukraine.24am@gmail.com
Copyright Š 2015