In war-torn Ukraine, a group of high school graduates from Chernihiv came together for a graduation photoshoot. But this time, they posed not in the schoolyard, but in front of damaged buildings and destroyed vehicles. The frames draw a plain portrait of not only the devastating effects of the war, but also the struggle of young people to hold on to life.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has radically changed the lives of thousands of young people but they still hold on to life despite everything and live their youth.
25-year-old photographer Stanislav Senyk, who wanted to open a window to the world of Ukrainian youth in war conditions, met with students who graduated from high school this year in Chernihiv, in northern Ukraine. Senyk, who wanted to document this turning point in their life, took their graduation photos.
“And I’m sure it was very important to capture that in the memory,” he said. “And 10-15 years from now, when they have their own children, they can show those pictures to them.”
Chernihiv was the site of fierce attacks by Russian forces after the invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. When Russian troops finally withdrew from the region on March 31, the city was left in rubble. Some attacks in Chernihiv were “in clear violation of the laws of war”, killing numerous civilians and damaging civilian infrastructure, according to Human Rights Watch.
Senyk explains the purpose of his photography project as follows: “The main purpose is to save memories. Currently, history is being written. It’s very important, not only for these students but for all of our nation. If, for example, if we had photos of the way Russia has acted in Ukraine in the past – if all parents and grandparents had an album of photos – I think we wouldn’t have today’s war.
One of the students, Olha Babynets, 17, said she enjoyed the photoshoot, even if it was “very difficult” for everyone involved.
“But we wanted to show that we live in such realities and it is like that for us,” she told Reuters. “No, we wanted to show our pain, which is there and has never subsided. It was difficult emotionally, but we tried to hold on. And I think we managed to do that.”
Sources: NYPost, France 24