The "Memorial" memory platform, in collaboration with regional media in Sumy, Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, and Mykolaiv, has created a series of photo reports titled "Take me where Daddy sleeps." The photo project is dedicated to life in military cemeteries.
The aim of the project is to showcase military cemeteries as important memorial places for heroes, sharing the stories of fallen defenders and supporting their families and loved ones. Journalists and photographers visited the Alleys of Heroes in Sumy, Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, and Mykolaiv, spending time with the families and close ones of the deceased and documenting their encounters in the cemeteries.
"After the onset of full-scale war, cemeteries and Alleys of Heroes are expanding in Ukrainian cities. Friends, relatives, loved ones come here to talk or be silent, cry or even laugh. To bring their favorite cookies, candies. To share news. Just to be close," as described on the project's website.
The photo is from the cemetery in Mykolaiv. Photo by Igor Archibisov
The photo is from the cemetery in Cherkasy. Photo by Kateryna Martynenkoâ
The photo project was worked on by:
• Sumy: Oleksiy Tucha (text) and Denys Kryvopyshyn (photo)
• Ivano-Frankivsk: Olha Surovska (text) and Olesia Saenko (photo)
• Lutsk: Ivanna Rudishyn (text) and Liudmyla Herasymyuk (photo)
• Cherkasy: Natali Sokolan (text) and Kateryna Martinenko (photo)
• Mykolaiv: Ihor Archibisov (text and photo)
You can read the stories and view the photos here.
The "Memorial" memory platform team has been collecting personal stories of Ukrainians killed by Russians since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. As of now, they have gathered over 5700 stories, prepared 230 tests, produced over 10 documentary films, and organized several exhibitions and events in Ukraine and abroad.