Ukraine is one of the most important former republics of the USSR. With a population of 47 million and a territory as large as France, Europe’s new neighbour is crucial for both Russia and the West.  In addition to its natural resources, heavy industries and access to the Black Sea, Ukraine is a major transit country for Russia's oil and gas. Athough independent since 1991, this emerging democracy has yet to form its national identity. Like many post-Soviet states it is in the throes of an identity crisis.

In order to better understand contemporary Ukraine, the nonprofit organisation Altemus commissioned a team of young East European photographers from Sputnik Photos (alumni of the Altemus Leadership Training for Photojournalists from Emerging Democracies) and  a team of Ukrainian writers, to travel the country and capture its ethos.

Their photographs and stories reveal a country caught between two worlds - 'communism and liberalism, tradition and modernity', but also a country rich in diversity and resilient in spirit. From the Donbas coalmines to Carpathian mountain villages, the Crimean peninsula to the capital of Kyiv, they bear witness to a country in full flux, on a journey to find itself and its place in the world.

The photo documentary was made possible by the generous support of:  Fondation Vidrodgenia, Ukraine International Airlines, Visegrad Fund. 

For more information, and to preview the exhibition, click here.

ALTEMUS (www.altemus.org) is a non-profit educational & service organisation. Founded in 1999, it mission is to help young people from new democracies develop their leadership potential so that they become active citizens and work for the benefit of their communities.  To date over 150 young people have attended its residential leadership skills and competencies training programme.   Altemus alumni hold leadership posts in Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe, the Baltic countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Turkey. They are working to promote human rights, good governance, gender equality, environmental sustainability, HIV/AIDS prevention and youth development.

Sputnik Photos (www.sputnikphotos.com) is a international collective of photojournalists founded by the alumni of Altemus' Leadership Training Programme.  Its members, young, professional photographers from central and eastern Europe, specialise in investigating and documenting life in transitional democracies. The privileged perspective and insight of Sputnik photographers into their region allows them to capture daily life as it really is, devoid of all external clichés and preconceptions.