Luzia Tschirky

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. 

Days before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, many Ukrainians felt abandoned by Donald Trump and his administration. Yuliia Diadiuk, a 25-year-old project officer for a Swiss development cooperation NGO, found Trump's accusations against Volodymyr Zelenskyy infuriating. Having spent a year as an exchange student at Highlands Ranch High School in the US state of Colorado during Trump’s first term, she deeply connected with America and its people.

There are more than one million war veterans in Ukraine. Since late 2024, Serhii Velychanskyi, has been one of them. He joined the Territorial Defense Forces shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine and fought until he was discharged for medical reasons at the end of 2024. After his service in the Ukrainian army he founded an improvisational theater club for war veterans. By helping others to reintegrate into civilian life, Serhii is also helping himself find a way back. 

When Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022 Anna Sarvira was visiting Germany. She has not yet returned to live in Ukraine but instead tries to do everything in her power and capabilities by further organizing exhibitions of Ukrainian illustrators in Europe. Anna Sarvira’s own graphic work and illustrations have been awarded and exhibited worldwide.