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Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, I started to portray women who escaped to Poland before the war. The portraits show Ukrainian women whose husbands, fathers, sons, or brothers stayed in Ukraine to fight for their country and who were forced to leave their homeland because of the war. They escaped from the war, usually taking small luggage with them and hoping that they would be able to return home as soon as possible. After coming to Poland, they found refuge in Polish homes, and millions of Poles help them feel safe again. The photos were taken in the houses where they stayed.

On February 24, 2022, the war in Ukraine began. By March 13, 2022, the Polish border was crossed by 1,650,000 Ukrainian residents fleeing the war. They are mainly women and children as men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country.

More info: aleksandermajdanski.pl | Facebook | Instagram

#1

Tetiana, Age 35, Alisa, Age 7, Lutsk

Tetiana, Age 35, Alisa, Age 7, Lutsk

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Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is absolutely heartbreaking. No family should ever have to see the horrors of war and having their entire lives uprooted. I pray for the safety of her husband and for Tetiana and her little girl.

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I decided to show these women because I felt such an inner need to show what these people are living through. War is an evil that should be avoided and these women are its victims. Each of them can be your mother, sister, or daughter. I did not want to show them at the border because a lot of such photos were taken already.

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    #3

    Natasza, Age 36, Shlapan

    Natasza, Age 36, Shlapan

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    Photos where they fled feeling scared and in cold jackets, carrying only their luggage. I wanted to photograph them in the houses where they stayed. There they could rest after the long journey and finally feel safe, forget a little about the war. That is why a smile appears in the photos, because they had the knowledge that at the place where they are, nothing bad will happen to them.

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    #4

    Katia, Age 5, Farunku

    Katia, Age 5, Farunku

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    Sabse
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This makes me do sad. So sweet and innocent and there are so much obstacles ahead of her...

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    #5

    Vira, Age 26, Wiktoria, Age 6, Weronika, Age 6, Lviv

    Vira, Age 26, Wiktoria, Age 6, Weronika, Age 6, Lviv

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    Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These are all so heartbreaking. This one really got to me. Perhaps it was the moment of peace between a mother and her little girls while war rages on or realizing just how truly young these children are.

    Many of them, while escaping, took with them a small suitcase and a few bags with necessary things (and small sentimental things that were unnecessary). Some of the women walked to the border. Some women were brought to the border by their husbands who then returned home.

    I would like everyone to see their relatives in these portraits and these women. Maybe it will give us food for thought and force us to help more.

    #6

    Svetlana, Age 36, Shlapan

    Svetlana, Age 36, Shlapan

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    David Brown
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one is extremely heartbreaking. That suitcase most likely represents what's left of her worldly possessions.

    #7

    Yana, Age 14, Katerina, Age 36, Lviv

    Yana, Age 14, Katerina, Age 36, Lviv

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    The biggest challenge for me, was reaching these people. Even though I live in Warsaw, most of the photos were taken outside Warsaw. In smaller towns where people know each other better and are not anonymous. I did not want to do this in "camps". Thanks to my friends and acquaintances who helped me reach these people.

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    As a photographer, I would like to show the world as it is. For 20 years I had been working as a photojournalist and documentary filmmaker. I'm interested in people.

    #8

    Maria, Age 48, Ivanofrankovsk

    Maria, Age 48, Ivanofrankovsk

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    #10

    Myroslava, Age 25, Fastiv

    Myroslava, Age 25, Fastiv

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    Pamela Blue
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It must be SUCH a happy relief to be somewhere that you're not dodging mortar fire, and that it's quiet.

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    #11

    Lida, Age 16, Maria, Age 26, Ivanofrankovsk

    Lida, Age 16, Maria, Age 26, Ivanofrankovsk

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    #12

    Maria, Age 26, Lviv

    Maria, Age 26, Lviv

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    #13

    Sofia, Age 6, Tarnopol

    Sofia, Age 6, Tarnopol

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    #14

    Olga, Age 40, Kyiv

    Olga, Age 40, Kyiv

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    #15

    Daria, Age 10, Iryna, Age 23, Berdichev

    Daria, Age 10, Iryna, Age 23, Berdichev

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    #16

    Lena, Age 25, Farunku

    Lena, Age 25, Farunku

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    #17

    Julia, Age 27, Tarnopol

    Julia, Age 27, Tarnopol

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