The price of patriotism

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project © Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project © Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project View all images ↓
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  • Dates
    2023 - 2023
  • Author
  • Topics Daily Life, Documentary, War & Conflicts
  • Locations Bystrets', Ukraine, Karpaty, Verkhovyna

This war has its price. It is with fear, trauma and mourning that the inhabitants of Hutsul villages pay for the fight for a free country every day.

Anna lives high in the mountains. Her sons and relatives went to the front. After completing his mandatory military service, 21-year-old Ivan decided to stay in the army. He guards the Ukrainian border. 25-year-old Jurij returned home after 15 months of fighting in Bakhmut. He did not expect that it would be so hard on the front, that being extremely exhausted for months, he would repel enemy attacks and experience betrayal from residents of the eastern part of Ukraine, while risking his own life. 47-year-old Volodymyr has been fighting in Donbas since the beginning of the war. His wife and daughter are deeply affected by his involvement in the war. The daily life of stress and uncertainty has caused serious health problems for the women. 38-year-old Mykola died in Bachmut. He left behind two daughters who are convinced that they lost their father because they did not manage to give him a hand-made cross in time.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Hutsul Villages. In the small Hutsul villages, located near the border with Romania, men have left their families at home to fight in the war.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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School. The school in the village of Zełene provided shelter to people fleeing from the occupied territories during the holidays. It is currently conducting direct education and is prepared for a potential missile attack from Russia.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Easter Wishes. Jurij is gving Easter wishes to his mother and sister. He is calling from Bachmut. He is talking about the effects of another missile attack.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Therapy. Jurij did not expect the front to be so difficult. After returning home, he is struggling with war trauma and is trying to rebuild his relationships with his family.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Good Saturday. Since wars have been going on, the villagers often give up celebrating. They believe that it is not appropriate to rejoice when soldiers are risking their lives on the front.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Female Soldier. Julia comes from a patriotic family. From the first days of the invasion, she has been fully engaged in the war efforts along with her brother. Stefan died in Zaporizhzhia.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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The Role of Women. In the Hutsul mountains, where the climate is harsh, life is closely tied to the rhythm of nature. Since Anna's sons have been fighting on the front, she manages the household by herself.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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News. Almost every Ukrainian has someone at war: children, relatives, friends. People are continuously seeking information about the progress on the front, waiting for the return of their loved ones.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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The Third Child. The longer the war lasts, the fewer people are willing to go to the front. Men who take care of three minor children are not yet mobilized.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Ukrainian Uniform. Alexander completed his mandatory military service many years ago. His mother, raised with respect for tradition and love for the homeland, still keeps her sons' uniforms.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Neighborly Help. Despite the ongoing war, Jurij is planning to build a house. After a full day's work, in accordance with the Hutsul custom of neighbourly help, the host invites his companions for a hearty feast.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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The Last Journey of a Hero. The residents of Verkhovyna are paying tribute to a hero of Ukraine with flowers and the Corridor of Glory.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Children without Fathers. Katia and Ania's father died on the front. The girls are struggling with the loss and have redirected their anger towards their mother.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Farewell. Natalia bids farewell to her husband. She was waiting for this moment for a month. The body of the fallen soldier was only taken from the battlefield after repelling the Russian assault.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Tradition. Historical memory connects the community with its ancestors and is an element of valuable heritage. It allows the transmission of behavioral patterns, experiences, values, and symbols.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Avenue of Heroes. Fallen defenders of Ukraine are commemorated by plaques that have become part of national-patriotic education. They emphasize readiness to fight and sacrifice life.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Every Generation Has Its War. 92-year-old Anna lived through World War II, the Great Famine, and independence movements. Now her children and grandchildren have their own war.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Pass. After 15 months of fighting in Bachmut, Jurij received a pass for treatment and rehabilitation. He returned home.
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Pass. After 15 months of fighting in Bachmut, Jurij received a pass for treatment and rehabilitation. He returned home.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Legacy. The house where Dima's family lives once belonged to his mother. In 1946, she was exiled for 10 years to Siberia for fighting the Soviets for Ukraine's independence.

© Małgorzata Smieszek - Image from the The price of patriotism photography project
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Adulthood. Roksolana's father was the first volunteer in the community to join the war. He was sent to Donbas. The teenage daughter, believing in the sense of her father's fight, took over his duties at home.

The price of patriotism by Małgorzata Smieszek

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