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Youth of Kyiv

Children play on destroyed Russian war equipment in front of St. Michael‘s Monastery in Kyiv on June 12, 2022 Maks, works as a street musician at the streets of Kyiv, playing the traditional ukrainian Bandura instrument. He is pleased that so many people are returning to the capital, but at the same time he is having trouble finding a permanent job because of the economic situation. Kyiv, 29.05.2022. Grisha (left) and Borys (right), two best friends, pose for a portrait nearby Irpin. Grisha lives in Irpin, Borys is from Bucha. Grisha just got out of Irpin half an hour before the russians took the street where he lives with his family, this day marks the first day, they go for a swim at the lake. Kyiv Oblast, 06.06.2022 Sasha lived in the village of Dymer, north of Kyiv, with his family under Russian occupation during the first weeks of the war. He is glad that this period of horror is over and that he can now live in a shared apartment with many young people in the city center, Kyiv, 03.06.2022. Young skateboarders practicing nearby the Kyiv Opera house, which reopenend ab- out one week ago. A local monument in the background is still protected from possi- ble air attacks by sandbags and panels. Kyiv, 26.05.2022 Ksenia poses for a portrait at Schewtschenko-Park. She is part of an amateur perfomance group that performed for the birthday of the city of Kyiv. In a personal conversation she says that she is grateful to the soldiers every day that she lives here in freedom. Kyiv, 02.06.2022. The first rock concert of local bands after a long pause is taking place at „Grey Cat Studio“ in Kyiv. This evening marks one of the biggest subculture events taking place since the start of the war. Kyiv, Ukraine, 05.06.2022. Maryna (19) poses for a portrait on a raodblock in Podil district of Kyiv. She studies cinematography in her second year and currently works on project about a friend who suffered severe trauma in the army during the first days of war. Kyiv, 31.05.2022 The famous Irpin Bridge is now a improvised memorial site for all the dead civilians, soldiers and press members. Kyiv Oblast, 27.05.2022. After a 2-month break since the beginning of the war, the actors of the Kyiv Improvi- sational Theater are rehearsing again and preparing for their public performance in early June. Kyiv, 02.06.2022. A destroyed civilian car nearby the town of Makariw. Kyiv Oblast, 24.05.2022. Last evening of an art & culture center: The „PinkpunkArtspace“, a popular subcultural place in Kyiv has to close for the time being, because the apartment with roof terrace is needed for a refugee woman. Kyiv, Ukraine, 23.5.2022 Luda is a brand stategist at a creative agency. She has a divided identity, like many people from the east and south of Ukraine: Her father is Ukrainian, her mother is Russian. But after all the war, her Ukrainian sense of belonging is stronger than ever. Kyiv, 26.05.2022 After an art auction to benefit the Ukrainian military, young creatives are still sitting together in a small downtown park. Kyiv, 01.06.2022. A scene in Bodoryanka: Numerous civilian residential buildings have been completely destroyed here. Still sometimes kids use this playground at the backyard of the demolished residential block. Kyiv Oblast, 24.05.2022 Last jam session at an art & culture center: The „PinkpunkArtspace“, a popular subcultural place in Kyiv has to close for the time being, because the apartment with roof terrace is needed for a refugee woman. Kyiv, Ukraine, 23.05.2022. A improvised checkpoint near Hostomel in Kyiv Oblast. Many checkpoints are no longer manned since the withdrawal of the Russian army from the Kyiv region, but people are ready to ramp up defenses again at any time. Kyiv Oblast, 27.05.2022. June from Odesa is currently living as a refugee in Kyiv and has a lot of paperwork to do. She would like to change the gender in her passport to diverse, she is still listed as a man in her documents, which currently prevents her from leaving Ukraine. The bureaucracy will probably take weeks, even though she is optimistic that everything will be approved. Kyiv, Ukraine, 12. 06.2022 The youth of Irpin and Bucha reunite at their favorite swimming spot, a nearby lake, most of them for the first time since the start of the war against Ukraine. Kyiv Oblast, 06.06.2022.
How does it feel to grow up as a young person in wartime? Some of the young people want to stay, others can not leave Ukraine, some have returned from neighboring countries. After weeks of siege in February and March 2022, more and more life is returning to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The first theater rehearsals take place again, music clubs organize flea markets instead of rave parties. The first reunion at the bathing lake, the first concert to benefit the Ukrainian military. Many young people have returned after fleeing Kyiv for safety reasons in the first days of the war. Now, often after weeks or even months, they are back to support their homeland and try to live in their new normality as best they can.
While Kyiv has been considered comparatively safe in Ukraine in recent weeks, the future here still remains uncertain. The work “Youth of Kyiv” gives a voice to young people in this particular phase of their lives and documents their new daily events and routines.
Fabian Ritter ©2020 - Impressum, general data protection, Info