Every Ukrainian defender I meet has a story that blows my mind… It’s hard to imagine what these people have been through, what they’ve seen and what they feel. However, their stories help us all to become at least a little braver, and clearly understand that we all can do a little bit more to help not only Ukraine and Ukrainians, but also help democracies stand up for themselves and survive against dictatorships.
Most of these warriors came to the US for rehabilitation through “Revived Soldiers Ukraine”, a non-profit organization, which provides medical treatment to the wounded Ukrainian defenders. They take on the most difficult cases. However, even when bodies of our heroes are injured, they stay incredibly powerful, and if I may say - beautiful. Their beauty is filled with a complex of what they’ve been through, what they are still going through, their views, the way they think, their depth and inner feelings. I believe it’s important to help these brave, incredible people accept themselves, and their new reality, and make them believe they are powerful enough to continue building their life.
1. Andriy - Andriy is one of the Ukrainian defenders who served in the 80th Brigade. I saw a video where he was still walking on his own two feet with his friend who asked him about how he feels about his life. He said, showing his sense of humor, that he will survive.
Andrii got injured by an anti tank mine and suffered traumatic amputation of both legs above the knees. He lost one eye and partially lost vision on his second eye. However, as he said - he survived. Now he is fighting another battle; it’s a battle to get back to as active a life as possible. He still has his unique sense of humor, and even though his body is wounded, his spirit is strong. Every time I meet these brave people, I see their power and inner beauty. I met another warrior whose story makes us feel appreciation for every single defender as well as makes us learn to keep fighting for our values and never give up.
2. Misha - Mykhailo is one of the warriors I had a chance to photograph in studio. Seeing him with his significant other, I was witness to love at its highest vibration. Originally from Lviv, he served Ukraine as a defender in the 80th brigade. Unfortunately, he was wounded and lost both of his legs. His will power amazes me as after such huge changes in his life he is already walking on his new feet - prosthesis he received through @revivedsoldiersukraine. However, what amazed me even more was that I saw how this gorgeous, delicate, young girl, Iryna, takes care of her other half. This couple is a symbol of true unconditional love, which teaches us we can stay human even after going through horrible experiences.
3. Artem - When I met Artem, it quickly became clear to me that he had a larger than life personality. A warrior from Ukraine’s 28th Brigade, he defended Irpin and was injured by a mine explosion near Kherson resulting in the amputation of both his legs below the knee. Despite all this, when I met him, he kept joking around all the time and was not shy in sharing his creative ideas for the photo session. It was amazing seeing a warrior that excited about not only his portrait session, but about life in general. He is an example of something that amazes me the most: how our heroes remain themselves, remain sincere, kind, openminded, strong and supportive even after what they’ve been through.
4. Sashko - When I met Sashko I was absolutely amazed by his cheerfulness and inner light he carries despite everything he’s been through. He’s a designer, who had never been in the military before russia invaded Ukraine a year ago. However, out of a sense of civic duty, he joined the Karpatska Sich Batallion to protect Ukraine and its people. He was one of the liberators of Kharkiv region, and in that campaign, he lost both his legs. When we talked I saw he had incredible optimism, kindness and a desire to continue doing everything he can do to help Ukraine win, to help Ukrainians get through this tragedy without losing faith, and most importantly - when the war ends, to help build an amazing country of free people where everyone can get inspired by the power of the Ukrainian spirit, art, culture and beauty of every city and town that gets rebuilt.
5. Oleh - Oleh is a Ukrainian Army soldier who served in the volunteer battalion “Donbas”. He was one of the first soldiers who got deployed to the war zone in Eastern Ukraine right after the protests on the Maidan. Oleh got severely wounded in Popasna city in July, 2014 when 3 bullets struck his left thigh. He’s been through 47 surgeries. He has been undergoing rehabilitation in the USA (through Revived Soldiers of Ukraine) as he wasn’t able to walk. Yet when russia started a full scale war he went back to Ukraine to protect his country. He endured unimaginable pain, both physical and mental, he saw the horrors of Irpin and Bucha… yet when I met him, his open kind smile showed me his inner strength. I’m proud to get to know people like him better and honored I was able to photograph him.
6. Arseniy - Arseniy is one of those warriors who has been fighting for Ukraine since the beginning. He actively participated in the Revolution of Dignity 2013-2014. He volunteered for the front in 2014. He was also one of the Mariupol defenders from the Azov brigade who heroically fought with his brothers for Ukraine’s freedom. He was wounded. A shell fragment hit his leg. He was captured by the russians along with other Azovstal defenders, enduring unimaginable horrors for long 7 months… He was freed in a prisoner exchange at the beginning of 2023. He’s underwent surgery and is going through rehab. Despite all that, when I met him, it truly amazed me how incredibly calm, intelligent, and focused he is. When I see Azov warriors like him, I truly understand why Ukrainians say they are stronger than steel.
7. Since photographing Roman, I have been trying to gain a better understanding of how our planet gets graces with people like him. A 20 year old… A warrior… Defender of Mariupol… A person, who went through a terrible ordeal in captivity and is still filled with honor, dignity, grace, strength, positivity, and light…
Before I started photographing Roman I asked him to tell me his story… And he told me… It was balanced, calm, short. A little bit later he shared his interest and love for Scandinavian mythology, and I thought right away there’s something from the Vikings in him. I also thought that those who go and defend Ukraine are incredible people. Incredible is not even a good enough word to describe them. These people carry a higher level of self awareness from their childhood and clearly know what they’re doing and why they do it. These people carefully determine each next move like in chess, and at the same time they remain real dreamers. These people, even when they are put in hell, illuminate, with their power of their own spirit, the darkest darkness brought on by the enemy on our land. These people are impressive. When you’re talking to this young man who is only 20 years old, you experience a type of cognitive dissonance, because you feel like you are
speaking to a sage. However, you do understand he is only 20, and you want with all your essence for him and other defenders to have a future, and for all Ukrainians to have a chance to be happy despite everything that’s happening.
8. Vlad - This is Vlad… One of the Ukrainian defenders from the Azov regiment, a prisoner of war from Azovstal… He saw how the Russians destroyed Mariupol… He lost his friends… He lost his leg and his eye was badly injured (thankfully saved by amazing Ukrainian doctors), he endured all the horrors that come with being captured by the aggressor, but he kept his inner power and determination to keep fighting. I will not share all the details of his story here, but you can read it in his eyes. It always amazes me how people like him, who’ve been through hell, cary themselves with so much inner dignity and strength. Vlad’s code name is “Wikipedia”. I think this is very telling, as I see this inspiring young man as someone who we all can learn from.
9. Denys - Denys is a strong and courageous Ukrainian warrior I was lucky to get to meet and photograph. A border guard from the city of Mariupol. He lived there. He fought there. He saw his city being destroyed by the occupiers. In Mariupol he was wounded and had a traumatic amputation of his leg and was captured. Denis was taken to the Donetsk hospital, where he had been for 2 months before being freed in a prisons exchange. This short story doesn’t include his inner story; however, no matter what he’s been through- it’s clear he is unbreakable. Denys and the other warriors I met all make me believe that with incredible people like them Ukraine will be reborn.
10. Zhenya is one of those warriors who doesn’t like to talk a lot. He’s enduring everything destiny prepared for him quietly yet strongly. He worked in construction before the war, and when it started he wanted to protect his family and his loved ones. He wanted to help end this terrible war as soon as possible. Everything changed for him during the war. He started living every single day without thinking of the future as every day could have been the last one. He was injured on September 8th 2022 while storming the enemy’s position during the liberation of Kharkiv region. He lost both of his legs and his arm were injured as well. He is undergoing rehabilitation with Revived Soldiers Ukraine and wants to recover as quickly as possible.
11. I met Oleksandr a couple of weeks ago for a session and was impressed by his inner depth right away. He was calm and nice, yet I saw a complex personality, which consists out of kindness, inner strength, pain and acceptance of this world at the same time, and lots of thinking and analyzing.
Oleksandr studied and worked as a kid’s psychologist. He wanted to succeed in this field, he wanted to see his country blooming, he wanted to be a valued society member. He dreamed about traveling the world, he dreamed of his own big family with a dog, he dreamed that his life would be an incredible adventure. However, when the war came to Ukraine in 2014, he decided to defend his country, which he loves wholeheartedly. When I asked him what was most memorable for him from his time at war, he said - people, some of whom aren’t with us anymore, the way they gazed, their hugs and their actions. He doesn’t really want to talk about his injury, but he got wounded when a mine exploded and now is going through rehabilitation with “Revived Soldiers Ukraine”. He says it’s important for him to be worthy of every single day, to enjoy this life even in spite of all the challenges. He plans victory, he wants victory and he dreams of victory!
12. When I met Dmytro I was completely impressed with his amazing personality. He is only 20 years old. He has been boxing since he was nine and has always dreamed of entering a professional boxing ring. However, on February 26th 2022 he voluntarily went to defend his country as he wanted to be useful, to fight the enemy. He was taught that it’s necessary to respond to every punch. On March 13th 2023 Dmytro was injured by a Grad system. Unfortunately, it took 10 hours before he got evacuated, which lead to his leg amputation. Now Dmytro is going through rehabilitation with “Revived Soldiers Ukraine”. Even after what he’s been through he is incredibly open and sincere. He dreams of modeling and he wants to continue with sports. But his main goal is to continue helping his country, and those who suffer from war. His inner strength, calmness and positive energy truly amaze me and everyone who meets this warrior.
