Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 came as a shock for Ukrainians, but not as a surprise. The countries have been at war since 2014, when Russian soldiers with no insignia annexed Crimea and took a territorial bite into Donbas. Russia has kept this regional war smoldering ever since, while incessantly directing the blame at Ukraine.
Working in Ukraine for many years, Justyna Mielnikiewicz’s long term photographic project Ukraine Runs Through It culminated in 2019 with the publication of a book that unfolds the story of post-Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine. In it, the Dnipro River serves as a metaphor of the country, and as the line of reference along which Mielnikiewicz explores history, geography, and East-West dynamics in Ukraine. In 2022, the Dnipro River became, once again, a line of defense, a “soldier” of its own kind, with an army of real soldiers at the frontlines, Information Technology specialists fighting the war against disinformation, and volunteers in the rear, doing whatever it takes to stop the aggression.
In collaboration with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute
The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is a national cultural institution, whose goal is to build a lasting
interest in Polish culture around the world. The institute works with foreign partners and initiates
international cultural dialogue in line with the goals and aims of Polish foreign policy.
The institute has put on cultural projects in 70 countries on 6 continents, including Great Britain,
France, Israel, Germany, Turkey, USA, Canada, Australia, Morocco, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, as well
as in China, Japan and Korea. To date, the institute has presented 38 strategic programmes seen by
60 million viewers. AMI is funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
The institute’s flagship brand CULTURE.PL – an up to date cultural news service, discussing the most interesting events and phenomena related to Polish culture – offers articles and news in three
languages: Polish, English, and Ukrainian.
Cruator:
Ya'ara Raz Haklai
