The Art of Living In The Critical Zone

• Prize
  Gold in Editorial/Political
• Photographer
  Alena Grom
• Photo Date
  April 2022

In February 2022, Russia carried out a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Many Ukrainian cities were occupied. Among them, the city of Bucha where I lived was occupied. I managed to escape from the city, but many people remained under Russian occupation. Over 1,300 people in Bucha were killed by Russian soldiers. These events were called "The massacre of Buche". At the end of March, Russian troops left the city. I photographed people who managed to survive the occupation

Ukrainian artist, photodocumentist Alena Grom was born in Donetsk. In January 2014 she was forced to leave her home and hometown due to military events in Donbass. In such conditions photography has become a salvation for Ms. Grom and a way to escape from a traumatic reality. Since 2017 she has lived in Bucha. As a result of the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022, Grom and her family became refugees for the second time. However, her photos are not illustrations of pity or grief, they are an affirmation of life. Life against the odds — one of the main themes of the artist.