Luzia Tschirky

After living for nine years in London, Sasha Dovzhy, a researcher of Ukrainian literature, teacher, and project curator, decided to move back to Ukraine permanently at the end of 2023. On this episode, she shares her deeply felt motivation to return amid the full-scale invasion and discusses the launch of INDEX, an institution in Lviv dedicated to achieving justice by truthfully capturing Ukrainians’ stories. Through INDEX, Sasha hopes to establish a framework for how the war against Ukraine will be understood by future generations.

At just 22, Nikoletta Stoyanova has already witnessed through her lens more scenes of human loss than many photographers see in a lifetime. Originally from Odesa, Nikoletta moved to Kharkiv to be as close as possible to Ukraine’s front lines. She reflects on how her youngest adult years have been defined by violence and grief: the friends and colleagues she has lost, and the fleeting moments of tenderness she strives to capture. Mid-conversation, an air-raid siren blares—and imminent reminder on how the absurdity of war has become part of everyday routine.

When Russia first invaded Ukraine more than a decade ago, children’s rights advocate Olena Rozvadovska made a life-changing decision: she left her job in Kyiv and moved to Eastern Ukraine to better understand the realities children were facing. What began as a stay for a few months turned into five years living in war-torn communities — witnessing trauma, resilience, and the raw consequences of war. In 2019, Olena co-founded Voices of Children. The organization provides psychological counseling to children and families affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Before the full-scale invasion, Timur Dzhafarov was known as John Object — an experimental electronic musician from Kyiv. Everything changed when Russia started the full-scale invasion and Timur joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Serving in a combat-engaged brigade, Timur lost about 20 percent of his hearing. The music he once loved now triggers anxiety and fear, as the sounds remind him of the frontlines. The grim outlook for Ukraine’s future offers little solace; Timur warns that any ceasefire will not last as Russia is interested in prolonging the war.