Within the framework of the grant for documentary photographers, implemented with the support of the International Press Institute, we continue to share the documentary projects of the finalists. Konstiantyn Guzenko spent a month with volunteer organizations that have taken on the responsibility of supporting the children who have remained in certain settlements of Kupiansk district and Donetsk region, which are closest to the contact line.
Russian aggression causes suffering not only in the area of active hostilities or occupation but also far beyond the frontline. Children, who are dependent on their parents and need safe conditions for education and socialization, often feel these problems more acutely than others.
In November 2023, I spent time with volunteer organisations that have taken on the responsibility of not leaving these children without opportunities in the future. It was also an attempt to have a better understanding of the people who will soon be our common future.
At the beginning of November 2023, more than 90 children were forcibly evacuated from a number of settlements in the Kupyansk district, which are the closest to the contact line. Due to the difficulty of reaching the left shore of the Oskol and the obvious danger of regular shelling by Russian artillery, the last signs of life there have been reduced to basic survival. Sadly, even the 'mandatory' evacuation means only the personal persuasion of parents by volunteers accompanied by the police. Fear of leaving their familiar surroundings makes some of them risk their children's lives and livelihoods.
“I don't need Kharkiv, I know every path here. Do you want me to show you a mine?”
Children experience the same limited choice of activities and environment every day in the once busy Kramatorsk, where civilian life seems to have ground to a halt since the full-scale invasion. Online learning, the fear of parents to let their children go far away, and in many cases the loss of friends who have left the city, only serve to maintain their worries and their lack of interest in moving forward.
Volunteers decided to support the development of children who have no other way to escape the difficult conditions of isolation at home, after learning about the context of dependence on parents during regular evacuations. This experimental space helps to restore the children's natural curiosity.
In remote settlements, where personal connections and routines are crucial, any lack of outside help is felt even more acutely. Without personal transport and time and money to use it, it is impossible to travel outside the depopulated villages.
One of the most striking encounters this month was with Sofia, who continues to shine in her small world of family and pets on the outskirts of Kostiantynivka. She greets the soldiers with drawings, gives them her plasticine handicrafts donated by someone, and shares every little thing. Her family has become accustomed to these conditions, partly because their eldest child has special needs. Moving or making major changes to her routine is too much for their mother.
As long as Russia's invasion continues, life in these regions will continue to look like this. Each personal story of a difficult but saved childhood deserves empathy and understanding of the context for the sake of a common future.
Kostiantyn Guzenko is a documentary and art photographer from Kyiv.
He has worked as an engineer and cameraman on television and in online media projects.
Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he has been working as a freelance photographer, documenting the consequences of the war and the fight against the occupation.
Read also: Documentary projects of 10 microgrant finalists from UAPP
Within the framework of the grant for documentary photographers, implemented with the support of the International Press Institute, we continue to share the documentary projects of the finalists. Konstiantyn Guzenko spent a month with volunteer organizations that have taken on the responsibility of supporting the children who have remained in certain settlements of Kupiansk district and Donetsk region, which are closest to the contact line.
Russian aggression causes suffering not only in the area of active hostilities or occupation but also far beyond the frontline. Children, who are dependent on their parents and need safe conditions for education and socialization, often feel these problems more acutely than others.
In November 2023, I spent time with volunteer organisations that have taken on the responsibility of not leaving these children without opportunities in the future. It was also an attempt to have a better understanding of the people who will soon be our common future.
At the beginning of November 2023, more than 90 children were forcibly evacuated from a number of settlements in the Kupyansk district, which are the closest to the contact line. Due to the difficulty of reaching the left shore of the Oskol and the obvious danger of regular shelling by Russian artillery, the last signs of life there have been reduced to basic survival. Sadly, even the 'mandatory' evacuation means only the personal persuasion of parents by volunteers accompanied by the police. Fear of leaving their familiar surroundings makes some of them risk their children's lives and livelihoods.
“I don't need Kharkiv, I know every path here. Do you want me to show you a mine?”
Children experience the same limited choice of activities and environment every day in the once busy Kramatorsk, where civilian life seems to have ground to a halt since the full-scale invasion. Online learning, the fear of parents to let their children go far away, and in many cases the loss of friends who have left the city, only serve to maintain their worries and their lack of interest in moving forward.
Volunteers decided to support the development of children who have no other way to escape the difficult conditions of isolation at home, after learning about the context of dependence on parents during regular evacuations. This experimental space helps to restore the children's natural curiosity.
In remote settlements, where personal connections and routines are crucial, any lack of outside help is felt even more acutely. Without personal transport and time and money to use it, it is impossible to travel outside the depopulated villages.
One of the most striking encounters this month was with Sofia, who continues to shine in her small world of family and pets on the outskirts of Kostiantynivka. She greets the soldiers with drawings, gives them her plasticine handicrafts donated by someone, and shares every little thing. Her family has become accustomed to these conditions, partly because their eldest child has special needs. Moving or making major changes to her routine is too much for their mother.
As long as Russia's invasion continues, life in these regions will continue to look like this. Each personal story of a difficult but saved childhood deserves empathy and understanding of the context for the sake of a common future.
Kostiantyn Guzenko is a documentary and art photographer from Kyiv.
He has worked as an engineer and cameraman on television and in online media projects.
Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he has been working as a freelance photographer, documenting the consequences of the war and the fight against the occupation.
Read also: Documentary projects of 10 microgrant finalists from UAPP
UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.
UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.
UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.
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