‘Help The Heroes’: Powerful images capture Ukrainian war amputees
proposal
Photography exhibit aims to raise funds for prosthetics development in Ukraine
For most wounded Ukrainian soldiers feeling normal once again is the most important thing. And this photography exhibition in Kyiv shines light on exactly that- the reintegration of wounded soldiers back into everyday life.
It hasn’t been easy for these 18 heroes . Many of them joined Ukraine’s armed forces without any military background. The reason- protecting their loved ones and standing up for values they believe in.
21-year-old Yuriy Veselskiy, wants to reach out to other servicemen struggling to cope with their war injuries.
Yuriy Veselskiy, Ukrainian serviceman: “Our boys can’t break because of all this. They can’t give up, they just need to believe. If they think they can’t do everything, they just need to try. And I’m almost 100% certain they’ll succeed. They need to fight inner fears.”
While 32-year-old Viktor Kardash who worked as a dance teacher before going to war said it wasn’t a hard choice for him to join the army. It was a matter of principle.
During the unveiling of the exhibition he proposed to his girlfriend. They met when he was in hospital recovering after his leg was amputated below the knee.
Kardash hopes that one day he will be able to dance for his future wife like he used to before the amputation.
Viktor Kardash, volunteer fighter: “I’m probably the happiest man alive right now. At first I thought, what if she says no? But after she started crying I realized she was going to say yes.”
Most of the servicemen who took part in the project will also embark on their dream getaways. Viktor and his fiancée will travel to London, England as part of their honeymoon.
Ukrainian photographer Oleksandr Morderer didn’t shoot traditional photos of servicemen in their uniforms. These are vibrant and striking images of soldiers, who wear their prosthetics proudly. In many of these images they are doing what they love. And most importantly look confident and happy in their surroundings.
The special issue of “Viva” magazine featuring the personal stories of the project heroes costs under 5 US dollars. All proceeds from the sale of this issue will go towards development of advanced prosthetics in Ukraine.
The international social multi-media project is spearheaded by “1+1” TV channel and “Viva” magazine. It’s called ‘Peremozhtsi’ which means “The Victors” in Ukrainian.
The social multi-media project also garnered attention from foreign officials. The event saw many dignitaries in attendance, among them the deputy head of culture and education at the german embassy.
The photos are a stark reminder of what Ukraine faces when it comes to protecting its borders – it’s also a reminder that life goes on after battle…
The multimedia project is set to go on tour across Europe and North America. There are already venues booked in galleries in Canada and the United States.
Source:
1+1 Media