
PhotoSpirit by Shendl Copitman
Photography project "Cries of War"
The war costs lives and destroys families; it takes away jobs, property, and even the ability to simply come to your hometown and hug your family and friends. The photo project “Cries of War” is a story about Ukrainians who had to leave their homeland because of the war unleashed by Russia.
This exhibition tells the story of people from Ukraine in different countries: Germany, Japan, Canada, and Moldova. The project participants tell their life stories before the war, how they survived the war, and they speak about their adaptation to new countries.
The project also raises many important social questions about the revival of Ukrainian culture and language. The project also shows how people deal with mental health problems, post-traumatic disorders, and psychological difficulties while adapting to a new society.
MOLDOVA
Olena.
Psychologist.
She is originally from the Karabach region.
She moved because of the war to Lugansk, Ukraine, and then to Odessa, Ukraine.
Currently lives in Chisinau, Moldova.

Kristina and Oksana.
Volunteers.
They left Odesa after the beginning of the war.
Currently, they live in Chisinau, Moldova.

CANADA
Viktoria.
She spent 6 months under heavy bombing in Mykolaiv.
Currently lives in Montreal, Canada.

Olena.
Her family left Bucha at the last moment before the occupation.
Her husband is still in Ukraine.
Currently lives in Montreal, Canada.

JAPAN
Olga.
She moved from Kiyv. She was pregnant and gave birth to
her second child in Japan.
Currently lives in Tokyo, Japan.

Olga.
She is originally from Wuhledar near Donetsk. She moved to Kiyv
because of the war in 2014. In 2022 she left Ukraine with her children.
Currently lives in Tokyo, Japan.

Irina.
Teacher.
Evacuated from Bucha.
She moved to Japan with her son Mark with just one small bag.
Currently lives in Tokyo, Japan.

GERMANY
Inga.
Singer, choir director.
Evacuated from Dnipro with her daughter.
Created an Ukrainian Choir in Hamburg.
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Galina.
Cosmetologist massage therapist.
She was evacuated from Kiyv with her daughter.
In Berlin, she took responsibility for a teenage girl from a dysfunctional family.
Currently lives in Berlin, Germany.

Maksim.
Soldier of UAF
Originally from Slovyansk, Ukraine. Was seriously injured on the war front.
At the time of the interview, he was undergoing rehabilitation in Hamburg.
After the rehabilitation, he came back to defend Ukraine.

Alexander.
Chess teacher. Pensioner.
Moved from Kyiv to Hamburg at the beginning of the war in 2022.
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Daria.
Musician. Music teacher.
Evacuated from Kharkiv at the beginning of March 2022
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Margarita.
Honored Volunteer of Ukraine
Her parents were under Russian occupation for half an year.
Currently lives in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Denis.
Student.
Lived under the Russian occupation in Kherson until August 2022
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Oksana.
Evacuated from Lysychans’k after being very badly wounded by a shell.
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Alisa.
Singer and producer.
Head of the Children's Creative Center.
At the beginning of the war she was pregnant
and left Kyiv after the Russian invasion.
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Veronica.
Ballet dancer. School student.
Left Odesa with her family at the beginning of March 2022.
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Veronica.
Ballett dancer. Choreographer.
She spent 20 days in Mariupol after the Russian invasion.
Currently lives in Hamburg, Germany.
