The price of patriotism

This war has its price. It is with fear, trauma and mourning that the inhabitants of Hutsul villages pay for the fight for a free country every day.

Anna lives high in the mountains. Her sons and relatives went to the front. After completing his mandatory military service, 21-year-old Ivan decided to stay in the army. He guards the Ukrainian border. 25-year-old Jurij returned home after 15 months of fighting in Bakhmut. He did not expect that it would be so hard on the front, that being extremely exhausted for months, he would repel enemy attacks and experience betrayal from residents of the eastern part of Ukraine, while risking his own life. 47-year-old Volodymyr has been fighting in Donbas since the beginning of the war. His wife and daughter are deeply affected by his involvement in the war. The daily life of stress and uncertainty has caused serious health problems for the women. 38-year-old Mykola died in Bachmut. He left behind two daughters who are convinced that they lost their father because they did not manage to give him a hand-made cross in time.

In the small Hutsul villages, located near the border with Romania, men have left their families at home to fight in the war. Bystrec, April 2023

The school in the village of Zełene provided shelter to people fleeing from the occupied territories during the holidays. It is currently conducting direct education and is prepared for a potential missile attack from Russia. Zelene, April 2023

Jurij is gving Easter wishes to his mother and sister. He is calling from Bachmut. He is talking about the effects of another missile attack. Dzembronia, April 2023

Jurij did not expect the front to be so difficult. After returning home, he is struggling with war trauma and is trying to rebuild his relationships with his family. Toplicze, June 2023

Since wars have been going on, the villagers often give up celebrating. They believe that it is not appropriate to rejoice when soldiers are risking their lives on the front. Bystrec, April 2023

Julia comes from a patriotic family. From the first days of the invasion, she has been fully engaged in the war efforts along with her brother. Stefan died in Zaporizhzhia. Verkhovina 10.2023

In the Hutsul mountains, where the climate is harsh, life is closely tied to the rhythm of nature. Since Anna's sons have been fighting on the front, she manages the household by herself. Toplicze, April 2023

Almost every Ukrainian has someone at war: children, relatives, friends. People are continuously seeking information about the progress on the front, waiting for the return of their loved ones. Toplicze, April 2023

The longer the war lasts, the fewer people are willing to go to the front. Men who take care of three minor children are not yet mobilized. Bystrec, April 2023

Alexander completed his mandatory military service many years ago. His mother, raised with respect for tradition and love for the homeland, still keeps her sons' uniforms. Dzembronia, April 2023

Despite the ongoing war, Jurij is planning to build a house. After a full day's work, in accordance with the Hutsul custom of neighbourly help, the host invites his companions for a hearty feast. Toplicze, June 2023

The residents of Verkhovyna are paying tribute to a hero of Ukraine with flowers and the Corridor of Glory. Verkhovina 10.2023

Katia and Ania's father died on the front. The girls are struggling with the loss and have redirected their anger towards their mother. Bystrec, October 2023

Natalia bids farewell to her husband. She was waiting for this moment for a month. The body of the fallen soldier was only taken from the battlefield after repelling the Russian assault. Verkhovina, October 2023

Historical memory connects the community with its ancestors and is an element of valuable heritage. It allows the transmission of behavioral patterns, experiences, values, and symbols. Bystrec, October 2023

Fallen defenders of Ukraine are commemorated by plaques that have become part of national-patriotic education. They emphasize readiness to fight and sacrifice life. Verkhovina, October 2023

92-year-old Anna lived through World War II, the Great Famine, and independence movements. Now her children and grandchildren have their own war. Bystrec, October 2023

After 15 months of fighting in Bachmut, Jurij received a pass for treatment and rehabilitation. He returned home. Toplicze, June 2023

The house where Dima's family lives once belonged to his mother. In 1946, she was exiled for 10 years to Siberia for fighting the Soviets for Ukraine's independence. Toplicze, April 2023

Roksolana's father was the first volunteer in the community to join the war. He was sent to Donbas. The teenage daughter, believing in the sense of her father's fight, took over his duties at home. Bystrec, June 2023

Exhibition

Małgorzata Smieszek (born 1973) – is a photographer and documentarian, a graduate of the Warsaw School of Photography and photography workshops at the PIX.HOUSE Foundation in Poznań. She is the recipient of the Krzysztof Miller Award for the courage of looking (2021), and a finalist in competitions such as Grand Press Photo (2022) in the People category, and Slovak Press Photo (2023) for her photographic documentary “The Price of Patriotism”. She was also distinguished in the International Photography Awards (IPA) (2023) in the People category. She is the author of the series “Red Zone” (about loneliness in COVID wards) and “It Happens” (about the work of rescue teams). Currently, she is photographing in Ukraine. In her documentary photography, she provokes reflection on the deeper aspects of life, focusing mainly on existential issues such as the meaning of life, freedom, loneliness, the value of human existence, and fear of the future.