On November 21, Ukraine marks the Day of Dignity and Freedom, commemorating the anniversaries of two significant events - the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity of 2013-2014. These events have become symbols of Ukrainians' aspirations for democracy, freedom and European values. Today, during the full-scale war with Russia, the struggle for these ideals continues.
On this day, the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes the photos of Mstyslav Chernov, who captured the historic moments of the Revolution of Dignity. His photographs convey the atmosphere of those tumultuous days when Ukrainians began to fight for their democratic and pro-European future.
The Revolution of Dignity began in November 2013 and lasted until February 2014. This symbolic date emphasizes 11 years of the Ukrainian people's struggle for freedom, dignity, and European choice. The mass protests that swept Kyiv and the entire country grew into a large-scale resistance to the regime of President Viktor Yanukovych, culminating in his escape, bloodshed, and the subsequent struggle for independence. It changed the political identity and mentality of Ukrainians.
On November 21, 2013, the government of Mykola Azarov announced the suspension of preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, which caused outrage among the public. On social media, Ukrainians called on each other to protest, and by nightfall, more than 1,500 people had gathered on Independence Square. In the following days, the number of activists increased, and solidarity actions began in all cities of Ukraine.
On November 30, 2013, Berkut riot police brutally dispersed peaceful protesters, mostly students, on the Maidan. This was a turning point: the protests became widespread, and the focus shifted from European integration to the fight against the Yanukovych regime.
On December 1, Kyiv hosted the largest rally of its kind at the time, with about half a million people taking part. The protesters occupied the buildings of the Kyiv City State Administration and the House of Trade Unions, creating the National Resistance Headquarters.
On December 8, protesters toppled a monument to Lenin on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv. This started the “Leninfall” in all regions of the country.
On December 13, Viktor Yanukovych sat down for talks with opposition leaders for the first time, but no dialogue took place. On January 16, the Verkhovna Rada passed the so-called “dictatorial laws” that significantly restricted the rights of citizens, including the right to hold peaceful protests. This caused a wave of indignation among protesters who went to the parliament building. The security forces used stun grenades, pump-action rifles and water cannons, while the protesters responded with Molotov cocktails and set fire to barricades to protect themselves.
On January 19, 2014, the confrontation turned violent. Clashes between protesters and security forces began on Hrushevskoho Street and lasted for several days. Hundreds of people were injured during this confrontation.
On January 22, the first activists, Serhiy Nigoyan and Mykhailo Zhyznevsky, were killed. These tragic events became a symbol of the Revolution of Dignity, and the victims were called the first heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. Security forces began to abduct activists, severely beat and torture them. Witnesses of those events recall the large-scale pressure and violence that the protesters had to face.
The bloodiest events took place on February 18-20, 2014. The protesters were pushed back to Maidan, and the authorities launched an assault. On February 20, snipers opened fire, killing more than 100 people. Despite this, the protesters launched a counteroffensive, forcing the security forces to retreat.
On February 21, Viktor Yanukovych fled Kyiv, and on February 22, the Verkhovna Rada officially announced his removal from office. The Revolution of Dignity ended with a victory for the activists. Ukraine embarked on the path of democratic reforms and European integration, but in 2014 it faced new challenges - Russian aggression, the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas.
Mstyslav Chernov, a well-known Ukrainian photojournalist and documentary filmmaker, actively covered the events of the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014. He worked at the very epicenter of the protests in Kyiv, capturing key moments that became part of Ukraine's modern history. While filming, he was attacked several times by security forces. In December 2013, police officers injured the photographer's arm, tore up his journalist's press credentials and destroyed his photographic equipment. In January 2014, a police officer threw a stun grenade at Mstyslav, even though he was marked “Press”. The grenade fragments injured the journalist's legs and eyes.
Chernov's photographs became one of the main sources for international media covering the Revolution of Dignity. His work was published in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC.
In his interviews, Chernov often emphasized that the Revolution of Dignity was not only a political but also a cultural phenomenon. He spoke of the dedication of Ukrainians to their cause and their ability to unite for the sake of the future.
“Maidan is not just a protest. It is a symbol of changes that society is ready for. Changes that are expensive, but they are worth fighting for. I saw people standing on Instytutska Street with despair and faith at the same time. The war, the Revolution of Dignity, the annexation of Crimea and the Russian invasion of Donbas and the full-scale invasion are all steps to build unity and build a whole generation of people who understand that the fate of their country depends on them," - says Mstyslav in one of his interviews.
Mstyslav Chernov - is a Ukrainian photographer, Associated Press journalist, filmmaker, war correspondent, President of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, honorary member of PEN Ukraine and writer. He has covered the Revolution of Dignity, the war in eastern Ukraine, the aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, the Syrian civil war, the battles of Mosul in Iraq, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including the blockade of Mariupol. For this work, he received the Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award, the Giorgi Gongadze Prize, the Knight International Journalism Awards, the Biagio Agnes Award, the Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award, the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award, and the Free Media Awards. In 2022, he was included in the ratings “People of NV 2022 in the Year of War” and “14 Songs, Photos and Art Objects that Became Symbols of Ukrainian Resistance” by Forbes Ukraine, and video footage from Mariupol became the basis of the film “20 Days in Mariupol”, which in 2024 was awarded an Oscar for the first time in the history of Ukrainian cinema. Social networks of the photographer: Facebook Instagram
The material was created by:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vira Labych
Editor-in-chief: Viacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary editor: Yulia Futey
Website manager: Vladyslav Kukhar
On November 21, Ukraine marks the Day of Dignity and Freedom, commemorating the anniversaries of two significant events - the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity of 2013-2014. These events have become symbols of Ukrainians' aspirations for democracy, freedom and European values. Today, during the full-scale war with Russia, the struggle for these ideals continues.
On this day, the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes the photos of Mstyslav Chernov, who captured the historic moments of the Revolution of Dignity. His photographs convey the atmosphere of those tumultuous days when Ukrainians began to fight for their democratic and pro-European future.
The Revolution of Dignity began in November 2013 and lasted until February 2014. This symbolic date emphasizes 11 years of the Ukrainian people's struggle for freedom, dignity, and European choice. The mass protests that swept Kyiv and the entire country grew into a large-scale resistance to the regime of President Viktor Yanukovych, culminating in his escape, bloodshed, and the subsequent struggle for independence. It changed the political identity and mentality of Ukrainians.
On November 21, 2013, the government of Mykola Azarov announced the suspension of preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, which caused outrage among the public. On social media, Ukrainians called on each other to protest, and by nightfall, more than 1,500 people had gathered on Independence Square. In the following days, the number of activists increased, and solidarity actions began in all cities of Ukraine.
On November 30, 2013, Berkut riot police brutally dispersed peaceful protesters, mostly students, on the Maidan. This was a turning point: the protests became widespread, and the focus shifted from European integration to the fight against the Yanukovych regime.
On December 1, Kyiv hosted the largest rally of its kind at the time, with about half a million people taking part. The protesters occupied the buildings of the Kyiv City State Administration and the House of Trade Unions, creating the National Resistance Headquarters.
On December 8, protesters toppled a monument to Lenin on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv. This started the “Leninfall” in all regions of the country.
On December 13, Viktor Yanukovych sat down for talks with opposition leaders for the first time, but no dialogue took place. On January 16, the Verkhovna Rada passed the so-called “dictatorial laws” that significantly restricted the rights of citizens, including the right to hold peaceful protests. This caused a wave of indignation among protesters who went to the parliament building. The security forces used stun grenades, pump-action rifles and water cannons, while the protesters responded with Molotov cocktails and set fire to barricades to protect themselves.
On January 19, 2014, the confrontation turned violent. Clashes between protesters and security forces began on Hrushevskoho Street and lasted for several days. Hundreds of people were injured during this confrontation.
On January 22, the first activists, Serhiy Nigoyan and Mykhailo Zhyznevsky, were killed. These tragic events became a symbol of the Revolution of Dignity, and the victims were called the first heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. Security forces began to abduct activists, severely beat and torture them. Witnesses of those events recall the large-scale pressure and violence that the protesters had to face.
The bloodiest events took place on February 18-20, 2014. The protesters were pushed back to Maidan, and the authorities launched an assault. On February 20, snipers opened fire, killing more than 100 people. Despite this, the protesters launched a counteroffensive, forcing the security forces to retreat.
On February 21, Viktor Yanukovych fled Kyiv, and on February 22, the Verkhovna Rada officially announced his removal from office. The Revolution of Dignity ended with a victory for the activists. Ukraine embarked on the path of democratic reforms and European integration, but in 2014 it faced new challenges - Russian aggression, the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas.
Mstyslav Chernov, a well-known Ukrainian photojournalist and documentary filmmaker, actively covered the events of the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014. He worked at the very epicenter of the protests in Kyiv, capturing key moments that became part of Ukraine's modern history. While filming, he was attacked several times by security forces. In December 2013, police officers injured the photographer's arm, tore up his journalist's press credentials and destroyed his photographic equipment. In January 2014, a police officer threw a stun grenade at Mstyslav, even though he was marked “Press”. The grenade fragments injured the journalist's legs and eyes.
Chernov's photographs became one of the main sources for international media covering the Revolution of Dignity. His work was published in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC.
In his interviews, Chernov often emphasized that the Revolution of Dignity was not only a political but also a cultural phenomenon. He spoke of the dedication of Ukrainians to their cause and their ability to unite for the sake of the future.
“Maidan is not just a protest. It is a symbol of changes that society is ready for. Changes that are expensive, but they are worth fighting for. I saw people standing on Instytutska Street with despair and faith at the same time. The war, the Revolution of Dignity, the annexation of Crimea and the Russian invasion of Donbas and the full-scale invasion are all steps to build unity and build a whole generation of people who understand that the fate of their country depends on them," - says Mstyslav in one of his interviews.
Mstyslav Chernov - is a Ukrainian photographer, Associated Press journalist, filmmaker, war correspondent, President of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, honorary member of PEN Ukraine and writer. He has covered the Revolution of Dignity, the war in eastern Ukraine, the aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, the Syrian civil war, the battles of Mosul in Iraq, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including the blockade of Mariupol. For this work, he received the Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award, the Giorgi Gongadze Prize, the Knight International Journalism Awards, the Biagio Agnes Award, the Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award, the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award, and the Free Media Awards. In 2022, he was included in the ratings “People of NV 2022 in the Year of War” and “14 Songs, Photos and Art Objects that Became Symbols of Ukrainian Resistance” by Forbes Ukraine, and video footage from Mariupol became the basis of the film “20 Days in Mariupol”, which in 2024 was awarded an Oscar for the first time in the history of Ukrainian cinema. Social networks of the photographer: Facebook Instagram
The material was created by:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vira Labych
Editor-in-chief: Viacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary editor: Yulia Futey
Website manager: Vladyslav Kukhar
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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