Between the Offensives> Images From a Journey in Ukraine’s Borderland
by Marko Strojin
In the summer of 2014, I traveled to the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where a war between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists had been raging for several months. I wanted to see the conflict for myself and to document the lives of the people who were living through it.
I traveled to the region with a group of journalists and photographers, and we spent several days in the city of Donetsk, which was then under the control of the separatists. We visited the city’s central square, where a large monument to Lenin still stood, and we spoke with local residents about their experiences during the war.
We also traveled to the front lines, where we saw Ukrainian government forces and separatists engaged in heavy fighting. We saw destroyed buildings and streets littered with debris, and we heard the sound of gunfire and explosions in the distance.
Despite the danger, I was struck by the resilience of the people we met. Many had lost their homes and loved ones, but they continued to live their lives as best they could. I was also struck by the sense of community that existed among the people of Donetsk, and by their determination to hold on to their way of life in the face of adversity.
I returned to Donetsk several times over the next few years, and I continued to document the lives of the people there. I saw the city change and evolve as the war continued, and I saw the people of Donetsk adapt and find ways to survive in difficult circumstances.
In the summer of 2019, I traveled to the region again, this time to the town of Pervomaisk, which is located on the front line between Ukrainian government forces and separatists. I wanted to see how the people of Pervomaisk were coping with the ongoing conflict, and to document their lives and experiences.
I spent several days in Pervomaisk, speaking with local residents and visiting the town’s schools, hospitals, and other institutions. I saw firsthand the impact that the war was having on the town and its people, and I was struck by the resilience and determination of the people of Pervomaisk to continue living their lives as best they could.