Ukraine

Internally Displaced- Finding Refuge at Home

25th April 2018

This seemingly dark and ominous building was once a pied-a-terre for sailors in Odesa. Today, a community of IDPs call it home. Photo: Megan Birot As the war in Eastern Ukraine enters its fourth year, the civilians uprooted by the conflict are finding solace in new communities. A port city on the Black Sea is […]

Chernobyl and Dark Tourism– Why thousands flock to a site of death and suffering

25th April 2018

A gasmask attached to a sting in an abandoned school so tourists can stand behind it for a photo opportunity. Photo: Cathal Charker The Chernobyl exclusion zone is known worldwide as a place of desolation and hardship, yet this still dangerously radiated area is a tourist hotspot, why? Cold air. Damp and deteriorating. Quiet and […]

Bread on the Border

25th April 2018

A pastor by the name of Vasiliy Kovalyev, decided that he wanted to help make a difference to the people living close to the front line, so he has dedicated his life, not only to god, but to a little bakery. He sells the produce for a fraction of the price, but also drives to […]

Crossing Borders for Babies

25th April 2018

Ukraine is the number one surrogacy spot in the world for Americans, Europeans, and Canadians. Ukrainian surrogacy clinics continue to grow rapidly due to their easy access, cheap prices, and the benefits of Ukrainian legislation in comparison to other countries. Bianca Smith has had a long and tiring journey trying to get pregnant. In […]

Living on the Frontline of Ukraine’s Forgotten War

16th April 2018

Natasha checking in on her farm animals. Photo: Megan Birot As the war in Ukraine’s East enters its fourth year, with no prospect for peace; the people leaving near the frontline of the protracted conflict remain at its mercy. Natasha Titova holds her hands up and counts her fingers. “Seven times,” she shouts, that her […]

The value of independence: How Ukraine struggles to remain Ukrainian

16th April 2018

A selection of hryvnia notes which each depict an important historical Ukrainian such as Bohdan Khmelnytsky the first Hetman of Ukraine on the 5 hryvnia note. Photo: Cathal Charker Following two decades of economic decline and four long years of war, how do Ukrainians feel about independence? 26 years. 26 long troublesome years of independence […]

Bearing the Brunt of Civilisation

11th April 2018

This is Mashutka, a brown bear from the Four Paws Domazhyr Sanctuary. Photo: April McLennan. The brown bears of Ukraine have been the victims of abuse for numerous years. But with the country turning their back on Russia and moving towards the European Union, their future is beginning to look more bright. Mashutka paces back and forth in her spacious enclosure, […]

Ukrainian government fails youth

11th April 2018

Students supporting the Euromaidan, with demands of European values in Ukraine, specifically educational. Photo: Commons With the current government reigning in Ukraine, students are feeling hopeless and uninspired. The political climate is harsh and one of the more specific examples of this is the way in which education is impacted “When we are talking about […]

East vs West: how Ukraine is being pulled apart and used by its neighbours

8th April 2018

The world’s third busiest McDonald’s located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Photo: Cathal Charker Ukraine is a country being split apart by not just internal strife but external powers as well. What does it mean to live on the edge of two very different superpowers? Due to its location in Eastern Europe, Ukraine is […]

Running away from human trafficking

4th April 2018

Part of a 2014 art installation in nine locations in Ukraine titled, ‘Invisible in Plain Sight’ which seeks to raise awareness about trafficking and tell the stories of victims who often remain unseen. Photo: International Organisation for Migration Since 1991, over 160,000 people in Ukraine fell victim to human trafficking. La Strada Ukraine is on […]