Unhealed Wounds
Unhealed Wounds: A Story of the Russian Ecocide Against Ukraine is a VR documentary I directed and filmed, exploring the environmental impact of the Russian war against Ukraine. Through immersive storytelling, this project takes you on a journey across five regions — Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv — to uncover how war doesn’t just devastate lives but also leaves lasting scars on nature.
In Dnipro, we document the aftermath of a missile strike near the train station. In Kharkiv, the haunting darkness of a war-torn city. In Zaporizhzhia, I met with Olesya Kulyk, an animal rescuer who cares for pets saved from the frontlines. In Zhytomyr, we explore the burned forests of the Drevlians Nature Reserve. And in Kyiv, the Chornobyl Reserve reveals the fragility of ecosystems caught in the crossfire.
Assistant: Artem Baidala
Soundtrack: Marko Medvediev
This project was supported by Documenting Ukraine.
Watch the full documentary below.
Exhibition in Finland
This project was featured in the Trees, Stones, Reeds exhibition at Art Space Muijala, an art space and artist residency located in Reila, Southwest Finland, held in the summer of 2024. It was showcased alongside other compelling works that delve into our connection with nature. The exhibition emphasized themes of environmental interaction, urgency, and reflection, presenting pieces that ranged from tranquil portrayals of natural elements to unflinching explorations of ecological crises. Within this context, the documentary served as a poignant reflection on the environmental scars of war, prompting viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the natural world and the impact of human actions.
