Donbass. Aftermath.

  • Dates
    2015 - Ongoing
  • Author
  • Topics Social Issues, Documentary, War & Conflicts
  • Location Ukraine, Ukraine

This photographic project explores the issue of the longterm impact of war and propaganda on the daily lives of civilians in the Donbass region war zone. It is a comprehensive attempt at recording the changes taking place in society in this trouble spot.

This photographic project explores the issue of the longterm impact of war and propaganda on the daily lives of civilians in the Donbass war zone. It is a comprehensive attempt at recording the changes taking place in society in this trouble spot.

Only 20 minutes away from the coffee shops in downtown Donetsk, the region’s largest city, we find ourselves in a different world as we drive by the shelled-out remains of Donetsk airport. As we take a detour around the nearby bombed viaduct, we see countless small bombshell holes and rocket fragments in the roadway. An ominous silence reigns in the air.

Vika, a ten-year-old girl, moved into a basement with her grandmother when their block was shelled repeatedly. Her grandmother was wounded by shrapnel last year and Vika has had serious fear-related problems ever since. Living conditions are harsh - their neighbor Viera says – there is no gas, electricity or running water. Their greatest hope is that the shelling will end. The front line is just two kilometers away. The war is already in its fourth year. Who needs it? – she asks.

The conflict escalated into a war in 2014, barely two years after Donetsk hosted several UEFAEuropean football championship games, ultimately turning into a stand-off. A fairly large civilian population has remained on both sides of the front lines.

Much of the Donbass region, lying amidst vast expanses of steppe, has a characteristically industrial landscape dotted with heavy industry plants employing miners, workers and engineers. Before the war, the region formed a part of the Ukraine, and earlier, a part of the USSR.

More recently, however, it has become the epicenter of tragic conflict that has divided its citizens. A geopolitical conflict in which many preferred not to be involved but were forced to take sides. It has led to the dissolution of local community cohesiveness and the relative homogeneity of postSoviet mentality.

Very soon after the eruption of the ”Euromaidan” in Kiev, ”antiMaidan” demonstrations broke out in the Donbass as an articulation of the opposite sentiment. Local pro-Russian activists occupied regional government buildings (with the Russian government’s tacit support), demanding regional autonomy.

The conflict cannot be explained simply by population distribution in the Ukraine and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) or other social factors. It was created by politicians who exploited the differences and opposing viewpoints on 20th century history: Ukrainian nationalism on the one hand, and nostalgia for the Soviet era coupled with pro-Russian agitation on the other.

It is also a conflict over identity. Over one’s self-perception as a Ukrainian, Russian or resident of the Donbass region. The perception of Red Army soldiers fighting Nazi Germany as heroes, and conversely, of anti-Soviet insurgents fighting on behalf of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists as the true heroes. The search for identity has gained in importance and is expressed in declarations and the creation of lines of division.

The aim of the project is to explore daily life during this forgotten war, and also, importantly, to observe the destructive workings of propaganda and mechanisms of disinformation in a land where people of similar (or identical) ethnicity/nationality stand against each other, ready to kill. To document the dramatic consequences of the instrumentalisation of civil society in a country torn by war.

It is a tragic paradox that both sides of the conflict share the same realities of everyday life: unemployment, economic crisis, corruption, the struggle for a better life, TVreports of shelling victims, the overuse of Ukrainian and DPRsymbols and flags, war weariness and fear. The civilian population is tired of the conflict, wants a return to normality and a scaling down of military actions.

The project has continued since February 2015 with no external funding. The next step of the project will be to revisit the main subjects of the previous documentary photography shoots and to follow up on their stories and lives. The perspectives of ordinary people are the best reminder of the tragedy of this forgotten war. 



The deliberate selection of “images” and bearing witness continue to be important facets of the documentary photographer’s work – despite the extreme overabundance of pictures and images today. The underlying purpose of the exercise is to get a little closer to understanding the documented reality, to explain it and reflect upon it. In this particular project, the consideration of historical and ideological background issues will hopefully additionally provide more anthropological insight into the circumstances of the war in the Donbass.

© Marek M Berezowski - The Donbass tailing "moon's landscape" mural, Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017
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The Donbass tailing "moon's landscape" mural, Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Inna, Pro-Ukrainian activist with a granddaughter. Since the Ukrainian army has taken over the city, Inna feels safe. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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DPR’s soldier On the hill a moment to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Savur-Mohyla, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Golden monument for A. Solovyanenko, Soviet operatic tenor, actuallyDonetsk People's Republic, 2017
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Golden monument for A. Solovyanenko, Soviet operatic tenor, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Azovstal - Metallurgical plant near the city center. Plant employs many residents. It is part of the industrial character of the region. Mariupol. Ukraine side, 2015

© Marek M Berezowski - Chelyuskintsiv mine were shelled in 2014. Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017
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Chelyuskintsiv mine were shelled in 2014. Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Vastochnyj district, after shelling. by „Grad” rockets. More than 20 people were killed. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015
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Vastochnyj district, after shelling. by „Grad” rockets. More than 20 people were killed. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Mr Leonid in orthodox church. He is retired engineer who in penury in a destroyed and flooded six times house. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015

© Marek M Berezowski - Monument, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017
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Monument, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Day of the Republic at Olympic Stadium. In an isolated city, even oficial event with concerts helps keep mind off of current situation. Donetsk, actually Donetsk People'sRepublic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Teenagers after a party in the city center, Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017
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Teenagers after a party in the city center, Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Cloesed shoping mall after the start of the war. Many companies have fled from the region. Unemployment and the economic crisis exacerbates the difficulties of ordinary citizens on both sides. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Victoria and her Grandma live in the basement. Their block of flats has been fired many times. This year's grandmother was injured by shrapnel. Spartak, Donetsk's outskirts, Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Damaged buildings "adorn" the region. Shelling have been continued, missiles still destroyed civilian buildings. Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Pro-ukrianian Self-defenseof Mariupol tranning on the beach. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015
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Pro-ukrianian Self-defenseof Mariupol tranning on the beach. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Gymnastics competitions. Sport gives you the chance to break away from everyday life, Makeevka, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Medals say a lot today about symbols but also sympathies. Those about pro-Russian orientation. Savur-Mohyla, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Historical reenactment during the Day of the Republic. Abuse history and mythology is part of the this war. Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

© Marek M Berezowski - Image from the Donbass. Aftermath. photography project
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Pro-Democratic forces (pro-Kyiv) do not believe in fair elections. They sayed that ballots were faked in in printng hause wich belongs to Rihatem Akhmetov. Akmetov was conected with Oposition block. Because of blocking the printing house, local elections were canceled. Mariupol. Ukraine side. 2015

© Marek M Berezowski - Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017
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Donetsk, actually Donetsk People's Republic, 2017

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