Ukraine: the war.
On Thursday February 24th, 2022, Russian forces invaded the sovereign country of Ukraine. These are the scenes from the Russian/Ukrainian war in March of 2022.
Words and photographs by Gavin Doran
Experts across all serious Western news organizations came to a quick conclusion; Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, would fall in "days." To the world's surprise, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the country's President and a former comedian, resolved to stay in the country and fight.
With his decision came a massive wave of volunteers from not just from Ukraine but all parts of the world, to fight the bigger, stronger invading force. Months later and Ukraine is still standing tall, winning major battles and beginning to switch from a defensive stance to a more offensive posture in an attempt to drive the Russians out with freshly acquired weaponry sent from the United States and NATO.
Yet, despite Ukraine's surprising success, it has not come without cost. Thousands of men were killed in battle. Thousands more innocent women, children and elderly slaughtered for doing nothing more than trying to live a peaceful and productive life. In Gavin Doran's photo essay, titled 'Slava Ukraini', he breaks the war down into three chapters titled; 'Refugees', 'To The Front' and 'A Great Cost.'
In each, he explores the impact of war not just on the country in the macro but on the individuals that pay the ultimate price for the ideals they hold dear. Volunteers help refugees onto the train heading to the border with Poland and away from war. Some get through that border easily while some wait for days. Their lives and land completely upended. Most are women and children and many, if and when they return, will have lost both homes, husbands and fathers.
Ukrainian soldiers gather at the railway station in L'viv. Some smoke cigarettes and stare pensively into the distance. Others laugh with comrades. Many say their final goodbye to loved ones. But all board the train to the front lines of the war with Russia.
By now, some of the men you see here have likely been killed. The ones who haven't are still out there fighting for those you see in these photos and the very principle of Freedom around the world. Civilians and family attend a funeral for fallen Ukrainian soldiers at the Church of the Most Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in L'viv.
Gavin Doran was born in 1992 alongside his identical twin brother, Chase.
He is a graduate from the University of Florida and has been photographing professionally for over 12 years. While he resides in Brooklyn, NY, he is well known for his projects based in the American South, India, Italy and Iceland. Gavin's work has been featured in Forbes, GQ and Rolling Stone.
People from Kiev.
Artem Nadyozhin is young photographer from Kiev. Raised in Pervomaisk, a small industrial town on the south of Ukraine, Artem still finds his inspiration in the memories of foggy landscapes and abandoned factories of his hometown which had significant influence on his manner of photography. Lowered contrast, desaturated colors and slightly blurred contours perform the universe Artem is observing through his camera. The world he is willing to show fades away as each moment of our life. That’s why Artem never tells stories or express personalities in picture. He’s just capturing certain moments of life. Like hair movement or sun ray reflection on sea surface — moments that are fleeting and irreversible.
"I guess my projects are random stuff. I never plan the whole shooting or the composition of each shot in advance. Everything - the frame, the composition, the emotion, the light - is just concatenation of circumstances. I use film camera which also adds another element of suddenness. Normally I shoot my friends but my favourite part is shooting strangers. It's quite strong emotion when you understand that you're never gonna see this person again and that you're just catching some moment of his life".
Static world of Pavlo Danilevych
Edited by Odeta Catana, photography editor
Could you tell us a few words about yourself?
I am twenty years old and live in Kiev, Ukraine. I've studied math at Kiev national university for five years. Studying doesn't take much time, so I'm occupied with different activities. I have been writing poems for five years. Now, I prefer the photography as a way to express myself.
Portfolio Review: Valentyn Bobyk
Born in 1985 in Lutsk, Ukraine
Now lives and works in Kiev, Ukraine. At the age of 4 started drawing on large canvases. Grew up in a creative atmosphere of the architectural studio, where his parents worked. Studied at Children's Art School for 6 years. Became interested in photography during the 4th year at the University. In 2007 graduated from NULP, Department of Architecture. In 2010 became a member of UPHA — Ukrainian Photographic Alternative (a small independent group created to help and support development of Ukrainian contemporary photography).