Wounds
Wounds is an intimate study of Ukrainian activists and soldiers who were severely wounded during the Euromaidan Revolution and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine. It focuses intensely on individuals and their families who fought for justice, democracy, and Ukraine’s continued independence.
This ongoing documentation, which I began in 2014, reveals what are likely the most vulnerable and painful moments in the lives of these men and women. The physical and psychological wounds ranges from losing loved ones, nerve damage, multiple amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and excruciating physical and psychological torture. Many battle post-traumatic stress disorder while some have become addicted to painkillers, alcohol, and illegal substances.
A central objective of this project is to give Ukrainians an unvarnished perspective of how those wounded in war heal over time. This can guide and comfort those confronted with similar situations. For the international audience, it helps to serve as a reminder of the human cost of war and the imperative of supporting Ukraine and defending democracy.
Background
In February 2014, Ukraine’s president fled to Russia after security forces killed over 100 demonstrators during a mass protest movement in favor of a European future known as the Euromaidan Revolution. Moscow then launched an invasion of Ukraine and illegally occupied Crimea and eastern parts of the country. At this time Russia created a proxy force in the Donbas that it armed and controlled.
Eight years later, as Ukraine made progress towards becoming a European democracy, Russia launched an unprovoked full-scale war. This is not about NATO. Russia fears a democratic and successful Ukraine serving as an example for Russians and the nations Moscow once occupied and oppressed through the Soviet Empire. Moreover, Russia’s leaders deny that Ukraine is a country and that Ukrainians are a people. They simply want to destroy an entire nation.
The US government recently estimated that more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Officially, the UN has registered 7.8 million Ukrainian refugees, mainly in Europe. Millions more Ukrainians are internally displaced. The UN has registered almost 7,000 official civilian deaths, but the actual number is likely in the tens of thousands.