Under occupation during the Russian War against Ukraine

The third volume of the series examines the phenomenon of Russian occupation, featuring eight personal accounts from individuals who experienced occupation in various ways. In this book, we aim to answer one of the difficult question: What is the Russian occupation? We believe that one of the best ways to find answers is through people’s personal stories.

Eight personal stories from individuals with different experiences of living under occupation since 2014.  Among them are stories of looting by occupying forces, resisting Russian propaganda and relocating families for safety, recounting the siege of their own city and escaping filtration camps, being held hostage with nearly 400 villagers in a cramped school basement, reflecting as an LGBTQ+ activist under Russian surveillance, escaping from FSB officers, being a Crimean Tatar in occupied Crimea, and receiving a 17-year prison sentence for human rights advocacy.

Interviews with Nobel Peace laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, memory studies expert Anton Drobovych, and economist Tymofiy Mylovanov, who are looking for answers to the question of motives.

A photo story from Crimea by a Crimean Tatar photographer, Emine Ziyatdin, documenting life under occupation, including the time since 2014 Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Deep photo documentation materials of liberated areas (2022–2023) by Mykhaylo Palinchak, whose photos are included in the permanent collection of The Royal Photographic Society.

“This superbly produced book is a living testament to the wartime experience of the Ukrainian people, now in the third year of defending their homeland. Newspaper, TV, and online reports tell only so much, this book brings the human experience alive in the most powerful and memorable way. A brilliant achievement and hugely recommended.” – Stephen Fry, actor, writer.