Coming of Age Amidst War
The journey to adulthood for Ukraine’s youth is anything but typical amid Russia’s war. For young Ukrainians, the universal concerns of adolescence — school, friendships, and future ambitions — are eclipsed by the harsh realities of air raid sirens, daily attacks, and the loss of loved ones. They are forced to mature quickly, shifting from dreams of a carefree future to urgent questions of survival and duty to one’s country.
"Coming of Age Amidst War," a photo exhibition at the America House in Lviv, presents the work of 10 Ukrainian photographers who captured the ways in which Russia's full-scale war has altered the lives of young Ukrainians.
The photographs tell a story of resilience, capturing how young Ukrainians navigate an uncertain and often harsh reality because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, finding strength in both collective action and quiet perseverance.
Ukrainians face not only the immense challenge of rebuilding after Russia’s war but also dealing with the deep emotional toll it has inflicted upon the population. Ultimately, it is the nation’s youth who will bear the greatest burden of this recovery. While the healing process will span generations, the poignant photographs in “Coming of Age Amidst War” convey that young Ukrainians are both prepared for the task and acutely aware of what is at stake.
This exhibition was created in collaboration with The Kyiv Independent, Ukraine’s fastest-growing English-language media outlet, created in November 2021, just three months before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
