War means disruption. The forced displacement of people. In this series Igor Chekachkov documents the daily lives of people who have been forced to leave their homes due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now sharing a living space with host families and other displaced Ukrainians, they have lost the privacy of home.
These images are intimate. They show us what normality looks like during monumental upheaval. We see mealtimes, fractured rest and boredom. The mundane parts of everyday life, adapted out of necessity to a new environment. But while Chekachkov’s camera brings us into the room, we are never invited to participate. We take on the role of a slightly awkward observer, hovering somewhere between awareness and involvement.
This reflects how many Europeans feel about the invasion of Ukraine. We watch horrified from the sidelines, acutely aware of its significance but disconnected from the reality of war. The scale of the destruction, death and upheaval is hard to comprehend. Chekachkov’s photographs help bridge the gap between news headlines and our personal capacity for compassion and care. They share a glimpse into daily life that makes war real.
We need photographers to show us the human impact of war – to keep reminding us to stay engaged while our own daily lives continue. We can show our support by making sure these images are seen and remembered.
Images courtesy of Igor Chekachkov
