Concrete Sunflowers

Tag: occupation

  • A supply hub tour

    R: Let’s take this one, here’s its number. See? It’s all there. And this one was shot down literally about a year ago. I: Is it made of cardboard or what? R: Yeah, sorry, as we say, it’s made of shit and sticks, no other way to put it. That’s just how it is. But…

  • Vlada’s story

    Part 1: Vlada on folk heroes Part 2: Vlada’s story Vlada: Okay. Um… Ask Vic if I should tell her about… about the experience of the full-scale invasion. Valeriia: Do, do you want to hear about her experience of the start of the full-scale invasion? Vic: Um. I mean, if… if you’re happy to speak…

  • The generator in Balakliia

    Henry: Also, this was the only spot that had a Starlink. So people from all over different villages, they would come here, because nobody had any connection. Like even the railroad signs and all that. I don’t know if I told you this before, but there was a sign that literally said, it was so…

  • Human shields in Izium

    Iryna: <start cut off> were kept as captured and the parents didn’t have access to their kids, because Russians kept the kids as a like shield against Ukrainian drones and missiles. Because they knew that Ukrainians wouldn’t target them. I don’t have the picture right now because I changed my phones, but there was a…

  • Ana on wartime culture

    Part 1: Ana on wartime culturePart 2: Ana on superstitionsPart 3: Ana on stamps Ana: Well, again, before, like when it started in 2022, I guess we get more stories like the Ghost of Kyiv or Chornobaivka, if you heard about that. Like it was a village in Kherson which was- the Russian troops, they…

  • Valeria on folk heroes: part 2

    Series: Valeria’s story Valeria on folk heroes: part 1 Valeria on folk heroes: part 2 Vic: Do you think that language barriers contribute to people’s decisions? Valeria: Yes, because you know, Russian propaganda works really well, and they think that- well, there are indeed some people like this. But in truth, most of Ukrainian speaking…

  • Valeria on folk heroes: part 1

    Series: Valeria’s story Valeria on folk heroes: part 1 Valeria on folk heroes: part 2 Vic: Did you ever see any Ghost of Kyiv mentions on VK? Valeria: No, I don’t think so. I think I just exited it soon enough, you know, just in the first day of war, I was like, “No, I’m…

  • Chrystyna on folk heroes

    This interview took place whilst volunteering in a kitchen in Kyiv.  Part one: Chrystyna’s story Vic: Back when like Pes Patron was popular was that more for kids or? Chrystyna: Oh, no… Did you… Do you have an account on Twitter? Vic: I’ve got a Twitter, yeah. Chrystyna: So there was a, like, flash bulb,…

  • Olha and her café under occupation

    H: Henry, I: Iryna, O: Olha H: Does she remember my fish? [Iryna and the fish] I: [in Ukrainian to Respondent] Do you remember that fish we brought you? It was a huge fish. That was back in ’22. O: Honestly, I don’t remember that any more. So many people have passed through, so many…

  • Bogdan on his time in captivity: Part 2

    Part 1: Bogdan on his time in captivity: Part 1 Українською мовою: Богхан про свій час у полоні: Частина 2 B: What else is interesting from 2022 that really stuck in my memory, and now I think I probably wouldn’t do something like that again. When the road was being heavily shelled and the last…

  • Bogdan on his time in captivity: Part 1

    Trigger warning: This post contains descriptions of torture, including sexual violence. Oral interpretation provided during the interview has been omitted from the transcript for brevity, except where the interpreter provides additional cultural context or clarification. I: Vitaliy was telling me, I think… It [the city] was occupied in March, right? Or something like that? B:…

  • Sofiya on life in Crimea

    [Sofiya is from Crimea.  Prior to starting the recording, we were discussing the border crossing process]. Sofiya: It depended on the officers at the border.  You would have to show your Ukrainian passport at the Ukrainian border, and then you would have to walk 3km with all your luggage, all the way to the Russian…

  • Dariia from Akimivka (Yakymivka)

    Українською мовою: Дарія з Мелітополя Vic: What part of Ukraine are you from? Dariia: Zaporizhzhia, well, Zaporizhzhia region. Closer to…. Well, not as close to Crimea. Near Azov Sea, to be precise. Melitopol, well, maybe you know? Vic: Okay. So, during that time, I guess you had a bit of an information blackout, like you couldn’t…

  • Face Eater the Dog

    During my 2 week interview project in Ukraine, I spoke to many many people. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my recorder running 24/7. Someone told me this anecdote when I was not recording, but I can’t for the life of me remember who. So, here is my recollection of Face Eater the dog. A volunteer was…