THE RETURN OF VIKA

A JOURNEY TO IVANKIV AFTER THE RUSSIAN OCCUPATION 

Through this project I've tried to tell the story of my friend Vika Adamovich. I met Vika six years ago in my village Tolosa ( Basque Country ). She has been residing with the same Basque family every summer since she was eight, with the help of an NGO, however, this summer was an exception, as she decided to stay in Kiev to be closer to her family. As such, at the end of August 2022 I decided to travel to Ukraine to accompany her on the emotional return to her hometown and neighbors that have experienced the consequences of the Russian occupation. They had no signal for a month so Vika was unable to contact them from Kiev. This photo essay is the reunion of a united family that the war could not separate.



THE RETURN OF VIKA - Vika waiting at the Kiev bus station ready...
Vika waiting at the Kiev bus station ready to travel to Ivankiv.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - On the road to Ivankiv a bridge destroyed by...
On the road to Ivankiv a bridge destroyed by the Russian army
THE RETURN OF VIKA - Vika's grandmother looking through the window. She...
Vika's grandmother looking through the window. She remembers the... READ ON
THE RETURN OF VIKA - The Russian army arrived in February, and today, in...
The Russian army arrived in February, and today, in September, many of the... READ ON
THE RETURN OF VIKA - Vika talking to her mother about how life is going in...
Vika talking to her mother about how life is going in Kiev.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - Vika's family has a small vegetable garden. In the...
Vika's family has a small vegetable garden. In the photo, they are picking apples.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - A man rebuilding the chimney of his house destroyed by...
A man rebuilding the chimney of his house destroyed by the Russian army.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - Vika's sister in the living room of the family...
Vika's sister in the living room of the family home. Long hair is very... READ ON
THE RETURN OF VIKA - Vika's mother, father and grandmother having lunch...
Vika's mother, father and grandmother having lunch together.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - A neighbour who lost his house. The Russian army fired...
A neighbour who lost his house. The Russian army fired while he was... READ ON
THE RETURN OF VIKA - They also shot at their van.
They also shot at their van.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - The wife of the previously mentioned man in their still...
The wife of the previously mentioned man in their still unfinished room.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - Vika's father smoking inside the house. He turns on...
Vika's father smoking inside the house. He turns on the light for just... READ ON
THE RETURN OF VIKA - Building destroyed in the neighbourhood.
Building destroyed in the neighbourhood.
THE RETURN OF VIKA - This image is a recreation of how Vika's family hid...
This image is a recreation of how Vika's family hid for a month inside... READ ON

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