Armed men believed to be Russian servicemen are seen outside a Ukrainian military base in the village of Perevalnoye near the Crimean city of Simferopol on the day of the referendum on joining Russia. March 18, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Ukranian people gather during a pro-Ukraine demonstration at Shevchenko Park to protest Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Simferopol, Crimea. March 9, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A pro-Russian woman scolds pro-Ukranian protesters during a demonstration at Shevchenko Park. March 9, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Armed men, believed to be Russian servicemen, march outside a Ukrainian military base in the village of Perevalnoye near the Crimean city of Simferopol on the day of the referendum to join Russia. March 16, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Russian-Crimean men hold shields painted with the Crimean flag. A pro-Russian rally took place at Lenin Square to support Crimea’s accession to Russian. Simferopol, Crimea. March 8, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Two women show a banner supporting the Crimean referendum shortly after a pro-Russian rally had taken place in Lenin Square to support Crimea’s accession to Russian. Simferopol, Crimea. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
People voting at a polling station in Bakhchisarai, Crimea, where Tatars, the majority of the population in the town, had boycotted the referendum to join Russia. March 16, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
People queue to use a PrivatBank ATM after the bank imposed a limit of 1,500 hryvnia ($150/€107) on daily withdrawals. Simferopol, Crimea. March 13, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Workers remove the letters from the Parliament in Simferopol, Crimea. March 18, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Crimean people celebrating the victory of the referendum to join Russia in Lenin Square, Simferopol, Crimea. March 16, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Crimean people celebrating the victory of the referendum to join Russia in Lenin Square, Simferopol, Crimea. March 16, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Crimean people celebrating the victory on the day of the referendum on joining Russia, at Lenin Square, Simferopol, Crimea. March 16, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Eastern Ukraine Crisis
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea, conflict and displacement has engulfed eastern Ukraine. Efforts to reach a negotiated settlement have failed as the region remains a fault line between a resurgent Russian and the West.
A Ukrainian soldier stands on the road as separatists block the road to prevent them from advancing in Andreevka, a village 10 kilometers away from Slavyansk, East Ukraine on May 2, 2014. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, after pro-Russian forces shot down helicopters during the first major government offensive against pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A local citizen shows ammunition from a seized APC that was set alight during a fighting between and government troops at Oktyabrskoye village, about 20 kilometers from Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Pro-Russian militiamen take position near a barricade made with a train in Andreevka, a small village 10 kilometers away from Slavyansk, Eastern Ukraine on May 4, 2014. Ukrainian Troops have taken the Regional TV building in the outskirts of Kramatorsk, switching off all the Russian channels and only allowing Ukrainian broadcasts. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Pro-Russian militiamen take position near a barricade made with a train in Andreevka, a small village 10 kilometers away from Slavyansk, Eastern Ukraine on May 4, 2014. Ukrainian Troops have taken the Regional TV building in the outskirts of Kramatorsk, switching off all the Russian channels and only allowing Ukranian broadcasts. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A Ukrainian militia tried to stop the referendum voting by briefly taking over the City Hall on May 11, where unarmed pro-Russian civilians were gathering, in the Eastern Ukrainian town of Krasnoarmisk. After a while the Ukrainian militia left the building and started shooting at the people, killing at least one man and leaving two injured and in critical condition. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A Ukrainian man casts his ballot at a polling station in Budennovskiy District, Donetsk, Ukraine, May 11, 2014. About 3 million residents of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions voted in two eastern regions polling stations. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A Ukrainian militia tried to stop the referendum voting by briefly taking over the City Hall on May 11, where unarmed pro-Russian civilians were gathering, in the Eastern Ukrainian town of Krasnoarmisk. After a while the Ukrainian militia left the building and started shooting at the people, killing at least one man and leaving two injured and in critical condition. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Sergey was wounded in the legs and lungs by a Ukrainian helicopter when he was at the checkpoint of Andreevka, a small village 10 kilometers away from Slavyansk, Eastern Ukraine. May 5, 2014, Kramatorsk, Eastern Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Ukrainian soldiers arrive to reinforce a checkpoint that its troops had seized. Ukrainian soldiers wait along the road as separatists block them from advancing in Andreevka, a village 10 kilometers away from Slavyansk, East Ukraine on May 2, 2014. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the Ukrainian city of Slavyansk after pro-Russian forces shot down helicopters during the first major government offensive against pro-Russian militias in the east of Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A Ukrainian militia tried to stop the referendum voting by briefly taking over the City Hall on May 11, where unarmed pro-Russian civilians were gathering, in the Eastern Ukrainian town of Krasnoarmisk. After a while the Ukrainian militia left the building and started shooting at the people, killing at least one man and leaving two injured and in critical condition. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
On April 22, 2014, people attended the funeral ceremony for men killed in gunfire that erupted near a makeshift checkpoint set up by pro-Russian separatists near Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine early on Sunday April 20, 2014, killing three people. Slavyansk, East Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Gunfire erupted near a makeshift checkpoint set up by pro-Russian separatists near Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine early on Sunday April 20, 2014, killing at least two people. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Family carry flowers and a cross during the burial of Pavel (42) during the burial in the village of Alexandrovka. Three people were killed and one injured in a gunfire that erupted near a makeshift checkpoint set up by pro-Russian separatists near Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine early on Sunday April 20, 2014. 22 April 2014. Alexandrovka, East Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Parents and relatives cry and morn Yula at her funeral service. Yula (21) was a pro-Russian medical worker who had been shot dead by Ukrainian troops on May 3, 2014 in a checkpoint near Slavyansk when she was bringing food to her pro-Russian boyfriend. May 4, 2014 Kramatorsk, Eastern Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
The daughter of Alexandrovka (42) one of the victims, cries at the funeral ceremony of men killed in gunfire that erupted near a makeshift checkpoint set up by pro-Russian separatists near Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine early on Sunday April 20, 2014 that killed three people and injured one. 22 April 2014. Slavyansk, East Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Relatives carry the coffin during the funeral ceremony of Lubenect (21) who was killed by gunfire that erupted between Ukrainian special forces and pro-Russian self-defense supporters near a makeshift checkpoint set up by pro-Russian separatists near Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine early on Sunday, April 24, 2014. Slavyansk, Eastern Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
The mother and the wife of Hyudych cries during the funeral ceremony of her son in the eastern Ukrainian town of Krasnoarmisk, on May 13, 2014. Hyudych (39), a Ukrainian man, was killed by a Ukrainian militia that tried to stop referendum voting on May 11, where unarmed pro-Russian civilians were gathering, in the Eastern Ukrainian town of Krasnoarmisk. After a while the Ukrainian militia left the building and started shooting people, killing two men and leaving one in critical condition. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A truck’s grass footprints where fighting between pro-Russian militants and government troops near Oktyabrskoye village, about 20 kilometers from Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. At list six servicemen were ambushed and killed and eight others wounded on Tuesday afternoon outside the town of Kramatorsk, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A local citizen collects parts of a seized Ukrainian army vehicle that was set ablaze during fighting between pro-Russian militants and government troops at Oktyabrskoye village, about 20 kilometers from Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. At list six servicemen were ambushed and killed and eight others wounded outside of the town of Kramatorsk, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Ukrainian soldiers wait along the road as separatists block the road to prevent them from advancing in Andreevka, a village 10 kilometers away from Slavyansk, East Ukraine on May 2, 2014. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the Ukrainian city of Slavyansk after pro-Russian forces shot down helicopters during the first major government offensive against pro-Russian militias in the east of Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Six armored vehicles were taken by pro-Russian militants in Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine. There were also reports of defections to the separatists’ side. Krematosk, Ukraine. April 16, 2014 © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Ukrainian soldiers wait along the road as separatists block the road to prevent them from advancing in Andreevka, a village 10 kilometers away from Slavyansk, East Ukraine on May 2, 2014. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the Ukrainian city of Slavyansk after pro-Russian forces shot down helicopters during the first major government offensive against pro-Russian militias in the east of Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
An injured pro-Russian supporter bleeds dafter confronting pro-Ukrainian supporters. A pro-Ukrainian demonstration has taken place in Sergey Bubka Square. Pro-Russian supporters stormed the demonstration confronting the pro-Ukrainians, leaving several people injured. April 18, 2014. Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Pro-Russian supporters break the glass offices of Industrial Union of Donbass Corporation in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. May 3, 2014. Pro-Russian supporters led by masked men stormed the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Donetsk in Donetsk chanting pro-Russia slogans and shouting, “We will not forgive Odessa” on Saturday, May 3, 2014. They then moved to Industrial Union of the Donbass, which is 49 percent owned by the Donetsk governor Serhiy Taruta, and smashed their way into the building. No police were deployed to block the takeover of the building. 03 May 2014. Donetsk, Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Pro-Russian supporters negotiate with a Ukrainian police officer during the assault of the prosecutor’s office building in Donetsk, Ukraine. May Day celebrations in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, turned violent as pro-autonomy activists seized the local prosecutor’s office. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades, but later relented from repression. May 1, 2014. Donetsk, Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A pro-Russian supporter throws a chair out of a window of the offices of Industrial Union of Donbass Corporation in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, May 3, 2014. Pro Russian supporters led by masked men stormed the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Donetsk in Donetsk chanting pro-Russia slogans and shouted “We will not forgive Odessa” on Saturday, May 3, 2014. They then moved to Industrial Union of the Donbass, which is 49 percent owned by the Donetsk governor Serhiy Taruta, and smashed their way into the building. No police were deployed to block the takeover of the building. 03 May 2014. Donetsk, Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Pro-Russian supporters burn books from the Ukrainian Regional Office of the Security Service. Pro-Russian supporters led by masked men stormed the Ukrainian Regional office of the Security Service in Donetsk in Donetsk chanting pro-Russia slogans and shouted “We will not forgive Odessa” on Saturday, May 3, 2014. They, then, moved to Industrial Union of the Donbass, the group 49 per cent owned by Donetsk governor Serhiy Taruta and smashed their way into the building. No police were deployed to block the building takeover. 03 May 2014. Donetsk, Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Pro-Russian supporters celebrate after taking over the prosecutor building in Donetsk, Ukraine. May Day celebrations in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, turned violent as pro-autonomy activists seized the local prosecutor’s office. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades, but later relented from repression. May 1, 2014. Donetsk, Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Ukranian police surrender after pro-Russian supporters stormed the prosecutor building in Donetsk, Ukraine. May Day celebrations in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, turned violent as pro-autonomy activists seized the local prosecutor’s office. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades, but later relented from repression. May 1, 2014. Donetsk, Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A Ukrainian demonstrator wore a Ukrainian flag as a cape and decorated her braid during a pro- Ukrainian demonstration in Donetsk, Ukraine, April 17, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
A woman with her daughter during a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in Donetsk, Ukraine, Thursday, April 17, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Pro-Russian supporters pray next to the Regional Administration building in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Saturday, May 3, 2014, in memory of comrades killed during fighting with pro-Ukrainian activists in Odessa. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Funeral service of Yula (21) a pro-Russian medical worker, who had been shot dead by Ukrainian troops on May 3 in a checkpoint near Slavyansk when she was bringing food to her pro-Russian boyfriend. May 4, Kramatorsk, Eastern Ukraine. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Orthodox devotees carry candles during Easter Sunday rituals in Donetsk, Ukraine, early Sunday, April 20, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Orthodox devotees carry candles during Easter Sunday rituals in Donetsk, Ukraine, early Sunday, April 20, 2014. © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
Photos by © Maysun Abu-Khdeir
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Authors: Dr. Alexander L. Fattal, Maysun Abu-Khdeir • Resource type: Art
Maysun Abu-Khdeir’s photographs of the crisis in eastern Ukraine move across borders that themselves are in flux. The Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014 was paradigmatic of a new form of warfare that hybridizes inter-state conflict and guerrilla conflict. In this new permutation, actors and methods are strategically muddled. From the invasion of Crimea to its aftermath, Abu Khdeir’s images track the tensions of ethnicity and nationalism across an unstable regional environment that continues to boil with a war that has displaced thousands and defied efforts to broker a settlement. The images themselves achieve a synthesis between dynamic flare ups and a tense calm that is apropos of the shifting conflict that she has documented. What Abu-Khdeir has documented is a dialectics of politics as war by other means, and its inverse: war as politics by other means.
Her photo-essay raises more questions than answers, but that is largely because so have the unfolding events that began with soldiers who arrived in insignialess uniforms. Their menacing presence poignantly reminded Crimea’s residents that although the Cold War formally ended less than thirty years ago, the borders drawn after the dissolution of the Soviet Union are not entirely settled, and territories are still subject to forceful annexation. Russian’s usage of force followed by a referendum to legitimize its invasion of Crimean in 2014 offered a glimpse of the combination of cunning and brutality it would show in 2016 as it set out to influence western electoral processes and prop up the Assad regime in Syria.
Will future historians look back at the capture of Crimea as a resurgent Russia’s first move? Will the conflict along the borderlands of Ukraine spread into other former Soviet satellite states? How might such unrest meld with growing polarization in the region and the world? The stakes are large and Abu-Khdeir’s photo-essay is a moving reminder that understanding the changing character of war is an intellectual imperative.
— Alexander L. Fattal
Assistant Professor University of California, San Diego
Copyright information: Photos are copyright © Maysun Abu-Khdeir