Sarah Ashton-Cirillo's Ukraine Photo Collection : Volume 1
Sarah Ashton-Cirillo's Ukraine Photo Collection : Volume 1
This is the first batch of hand selected photos that were chosen for the Liberty Ukraine Fundraiser sponsored by Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
First some notes.
The photos that are being used to support the fundraising drive for Liberty Ukraine were initially going to be released as part of a photo book project, separate from any written works. The publication of that project eventually fell apart over stylistic differences. Once that happened I decided to hold onto them for publication at some point after victory.
However, what’s clear is that resistance groups such as Liberty Ukraine are a significant reason why we will achieve that victory, and I decided to release the pictures now in an effort to help with their Armed Forces of Ukraine drone fundraiser among other projects.
Liberty Ukraine is a 501 c 3 (tax-deductible) charity based in the US but comprised of Ukrainians. I have personally worked with members of their group on the ground in Kharkiv since March and had the honor to address their New York and Austin chapters on my recent trip to the United States.
If you’d like to join us in bringing liberty to Ukraine the procedure is simple. Donate at least $10.00 to Liberty Ukraine (they are a Paypal verified non-profit) and then message me here or on Twitter with your user name, dedication name, your preferred photo selection (civilian or military - although that’s not guaranteed), and donation amount and I’ll select a photo for your to be displayed here and sent out to over 2,000 subscribers and cross-posted to my Twitter account.
(Please note the photos below are displayed in the way my heart and eyes saw them at the moment. Some are edited, some are not, but all are now part of both Ukraine’s story and yours.)
Photo 1 - “Woman”
“Woman” was taken the night of my arrival in Poland. She was the first person I witnessed getting off a Ukrainian refugee train in Prezmysl; one week after the full-scale Russian invasion took place.
Photo 2 - “Crossing”
Sponsor: LickLick
On the train from Prezmysl to Lviv the gravity of the situation, not the war itself, I didn’t understand war yet, settled upon me when entering the borders of a nation fighting for its very survival. After this crossing, I wouldn’t leave Ukraine again for nine months.
Photo 3 - “Can You See”
Sponsor: Nancy / ncljax (from the Mriya Report)
On my way from Poland to Lviv, it took more than 5 hours for our train to go less than 100 kilometers. During that time, six trains leaving Ukraine passed us. Every set of eyes going in the other direction explained the truth. Every single one.
Photo 4 - “Through the Glow”
Sponsor: Anonymous - Dedicated to every quiet and hidden soldier and volunteer
As previously mentioned, one week after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, it took more than five hours to cross the border. Stops were frequent. During this moment all I thought about was how despite the now similar positioning of our trains, the stories of those travelers in each would never again be the same.
Photo 5 - “Everyone a soldier”
Sponsor: Bernice
During the war against Russian war criminals and terrorists, it doesn’t matter if you are with the police, ZSU, or a civilian, you are part of the effort to liberate Ukraine. This photo in Lviv shows that in the early part of the war, police weapons moved from revolvers to automatic machine guns. They also began wearing the same tape as the military.
Photo 6 - “Listen to me.”
Sponsor: Akiko (02UAtorte)
At the camp for displaced Ukrainians next to the train station in Lviv, people braved snow and rain to make phone calls and charge their devices. On this day, the weather was cloudy but frigid and still, the lines backed up.
