WHY THIS PROJECT

This project is a piece of journalism created to show what is happening in Ukraine. I have worked alongside many Ukrainian charities and organisations to provide the most up to date and accurate information. It is written and researched entirely by myself.

The target audience is people who want to understand more about the situation in Ukraine from a current and direct perspective. The audience will see images that are not usually published in mainstream media or widely available to the public. All photos have been used with permission, and any sensitive information has been removed.

more in depth reason

Since A-levels, I’ve been interested in Soviet history—from the formation of communism, to the Cold War, and now to the present day. I’ve always been curious about how people in the East lived. However, when the war broke out in 2022, I became intrigued not only by the reasons behind it but also by the effects it has had on the people of Ukraine.

The reason I’ve become so passionate about Ukraine and doing a project on it is because of people close to me. My girlfriend is Ukrainian, as is her family, so I’ve seen the effects of the war firsthand. At the beginning, it was a shock—but now, it’s a constant fight to stop the war. There are many times when we talk about when the war ends. It has affected everyone I know, and even the children of Ukraine have already come to understand who the “bad” side is.

I realised this in a small moment while drawing flags with one of my girlfriend’s younger cousins. I drew the Dutch flag, since that’s my home country, but she got upset. I asked her why, and she said in Ukrainian, “Russia—why are you drawing a Russian flag?” I had to explain that it wasn’t—but of course, the colours are the same. That moment made me realise what Russia has done in this war: not only are they attacking civilians, they are also instilling fear in children.

That’s why I care so deeply about this project. I’ve seen how it has affected people close to me, and I’ve worked alongside those who have witnessed the war directly. It has opened my eyes, and through this project, I want to show the truth of what’s happening—and why I believe Russia is a terrorist state.