2020 was a shock for the whole world. Every year we summarise our results, showing with 100 photos from the year how beautiful and little-known Ukraine is. This year, there will be new photos featured here as well. In 2020, the team began shooting on expeditions a few months later due to lockdown. Several projects were called into question, but did take place in the end. During the year, the Ukraїner expedition visited four regions: Poltavshyna, Sivershchyna, Slobozhanshchyna, and Tavria, and also managed to create several special projects. In this compilation you can find the best of how our photographers saw Ukraine in 2020.
In early 2020, we were shooting the winter holidays once more. At that time, no one had any idea what the whole of the next year would be like. In February, we asked our photographers and subscribers to capture one day that happens once every 4 years, i.e. 29th February. The best of the hundreds of photos sent in came out as a separate photo story. In fact, 29th February 2020 was one of the last days before the appearance of the first patients with coronavirus in Ukraine, so the photo project became a record of what the country was like before the pandemic.
With the onset of the pandemic, Ukraїner could not go on the expedition, so we started releasing stories from the archive that had not been published before for various reasons. We also launched the In quarantine series, in which the participants shot themselves remotely. In the episode about the initiatives that arose during the pandemic alone, we showed as many as 40 stories.
This summer, following quarantine measures, we finally went on the expedition. At the same time as the main one, there was also: an expedition to Germany for the Ukrainians abroad special project; an expedition in which we filmed 120 Holodomor witnesses for a special project with the Holodomor Museum; an expedition to local farms for a special project with the ‘Lavka Tradytsii’; an expedition for a project on national minorities with UCBI, and the Green Expedition with the NGO Greencubator and the EBRD. At the end of the year, we also managed to create the We are Crimea special project and launch cooperation with the Ukrainian Institute. This is not even a complete list of everything that we did during the year.
As you read this, we have almost raised a million hryvnias this year. You can also support Ukraїner on our website or Patreon.
Also, don’t forget to check out what 100 Photos of Ukraine — 2019, 100 Photos of Ukraine — 2018 and 100 photos of Ukraine — 2017 were like!
Artist Ivan Marchuk in his studio in Kyiv. 5th January 2020. Photo by Khrystyna Kulakovska.
Sunrise in the village of Kosmach, in the Carpathian Mountains. Kosmach is one of the centres of arts and crafts of the Carpathian region. 13th January 2020. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko.
The devil, a character of Kosmatska Malanka. 13th January 2020. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko.
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Klemens Pul is the art projects curator of the cultural initiative platform "Izolyatsia" standing in front of his Gurtobus (transformed into a mobile cultural centre bus travelling through the regions of Ukraine). 5th February 2020. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
Actors from the "DAKH" theatre at rehearsals. 14th February 2020. Photo by Artem Halkin.
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This year, the city of Pripyat would have been 50 years old. State and public organisations researching the Chernobyl catastrophe held an art event showing the new meanings of Pripyat as a centre for art. 5th February 2020. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko.
Viktor Marushchenko is a Ukrainian documentary photographer and the founder of the Victor Marushchenko School of Photography. The interview with Viktor, which became part of the story about Kyiv photography, was one of his last. Victor Marushchenko passed away on 28th September. 17th February 2020. Photo by Katia Akvarelna.
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— Modern photography is a picture plus your statement. Because a lot of good photos are taken today, but they no longer work by themselves. That’s why what you want to say with it is very important.
Victor Marushchenko
Yaroslav Mishenov is the founder of the Ukrainian comic book publishing house Vovkulaka. Kyiv, Naddniprianshchyna. 16th February 2020. Photo by Iryna Hromotska.
Sevastopol, Crimea. A view of the quay and ‘Crystal’ beach. 29th February 2020. Photo by Anna Prikhodko (pseudonym).
Photo taken as part of the photo project “366th Day of Ukraine“.
Tourists climbing the Hoverla mountain. Photo taken as part of the special project "366th Day of Ukraine". 29th February 2020. Photo by Andrii Vakhnii.
Photo taken as part of the photo project “366th Day of Ukraine“.
Ukrainian designers from LUKIS joined the fight against the pandemic, refocusing their production on protective overalls for medical staff. Special project "Ukraine in quarantine". April 10, 2020. Photo by Serhii Korovaynyi.
Andrii Pavlov founded the information platform no-covid.org.ua to help doctors from Kyiv get to work and back home in conditions of restricted public transport. Special project "Ukraine in quarantine". 12th April 2020. Photo by Serhii Korovainyi.
An employee of the FabLab rapid prototyping laboratory, manufacturing personal protective equipment for doctors. Special project "Ukraine in quarantine". 18th April 2020. Photo by Khrystyna Kulakovska.
During the lockdown, the community of St. Egidius helped the homeless by distributing free food, as well as antiseptic and masks. 19th April 2020. Special project "Ukraine in quarantine". Photo by Serhii Korovainyi.
One of Ukraїner's volunteers, Bohdan Suiunbaiev, working as a family doctor in Kyiv during the coronavirus pandemic. Special project "Ukraine in quarantine". 29th April 2020. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
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— When the war started, our army was reborn, so to speak. Similarly, for Ukrainian medicine, this pandemic will start a movement. Medicine, too, must be reborn. And reforms must start with even greater force.
Bohdan Suiunbaiev
Roman Pyatkovka is a Ukrainian photographer, teacher, and a dynamic representative of the second generation of the Kharkiv School of Photography. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. 11th June 2020. Photo by Mykhailo Chubun.
Ihor Liski is a client of SolarGaps. The company creates smart blinds that generate energy from sunlight. Special project "Green Expedition". 12th June 2020. Photo by Serhii Korovainyi.
A view of the River Lopan, flowing through one of the districts of Kharkiv, Moskalivka. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. 12th June 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
The board of the Kharkiv School of Architecture reviewing students’ theses. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. 12th June 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
Andrii Kachur, Director of the Hungarian Theater in Beregovo in Zakarpattia. Special project "National Minorities". 12th June 2020. Photo by Mykyta Zavilinskyi.
Vlachs are an ethnic group of Romanian heritage living in Zakarpattia. Special Project “National Minorities”. 13th June 2020. Photo by Mykyta Zavilinskyi.
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Street artist Hamlet Zinkovskyi decorates a wall in Kharkiv. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. 14th June 2020. Photo by Mykhailo Chubun.
Vladyslav Krasnoshchek, a Ukrainian photographer enjoying his backyard. He is a representative of the “Shylo” School of Photography in Kharkiv. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. 16th June 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
Modern manufacturing of roller-bearings at the company “Symvol” (Symbol). 16th June 2020. Special Project “Green Expedition''. Photo by Serhii Korovainyi.
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Rehearsal of amateur folklore band “Kalynonka” in the village of Lyman. 17th June 2020. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. Photo by Mykhailo Chubun.
Portraits of famous Urainian writers in the courtyard of the Kharkiv Museum of Literature. 9th June 2020. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. Photo by Mykhailo Chubun.
Display of calligraphic art at the H.S. Skovoroda National Literature and Memory Museum. 19th June 2020. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. Photo by Mykhailo Chubun.
Josef Kaloj, originally from Austria, owner of a bakery in the village Barbovo, Zakarpattia. 19th June 2020. Special Project “National Minorities”. Photo by Mykyta Zavilinskyi.
Borys Yehiazaryan, a Ukrainian artist of Armenian descent at his studio in Kyiv. Naddnipryanshchyna. 20th June 2020. Special Project “National Minorities”. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko.
Children playing with a rat at a skatepark in Sievierodonetsk in Slobozhanshchyna. 25th June 2020. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
Borys Romanov, an artist, graphic artist and bookplate master, at his studio in Sievierodonetsk. 26th June 2020. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
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Tourists watching the sunset on the mountain Shchurova Hora near the village Zakitne. 27th June 2020. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
Stars in the sky of Slobozhanshchyna. 28th June 2020. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
Customer of the company “Delfast” in front of a mural painting at a cycle track in Kyiv. 30th June 2020. Special Project “Green Expedition”. Photo by Serhii Korovainyi.
Orest Koval is a Ukrainian piano and organ player, and founder of festivals “Organum”, “Bach-fest”, and “Jazz-fest”. 30th July 2020. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. Photo by Anastasiia Nekypila.
Kupala flower wreaths are one the traditional features of the Ivana Kupala holiday. 6th June 2020. Expedition through Slobozhanshchyna. Photo by Mykhailo Chubun.
Deer on Dzharylhatch Island, Tavria. 14th July 2020. Photo by Oleksandr Dombrovskyi.
Yuliia Marushko, a Ukrainian artist, public activist and Waldorf teacher. Special Project “Country from the Outside”. 18th July 2020. Photo by Oleksii Sherepenko.
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A child from a neo-pagan ‘Slavic native faith’ family living near Dykanka. 19th July 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Albert Lores.
Corpus Park, a round shaped park in the heart of Poltava. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. 19th July 2020. Photo by Pavlo Pashko.
Poltava Local Lore Museum. 20th July 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Albert Lores.
Members of the folk ensemble ‘Drevo’ in the village of Kryachkivka, known for its unique polyphony. 22nd July 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Albert Lores.
Nadiia Mykytivna Rozdobara is a member of the folk ensemble ‘Drevo’. 27th July, 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Kostiantyn Huzenko.
Father Bohdan Pushkar has been looking after the Greek Catholic parish of St. Nicholas in Bamberg for 20 years. 24th July 2020. Special project “The country from the outside”. Photo by Oleksii Sherepenko.
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— I believe that we as Ukrainians should be ambassadors of Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian interests in Germany, respecting the laws, culture, customs of the people among whom we live. I am grateful to the Germans for allowing me to live here, but this gratitude is not so great that I can give up my love for my people, for my culture.
Bohdan Pushkar
Serhii Putilov is working to preserve and restore the schools of the Lokhvytsia Zemstvo, built more than 100 years ago by architect Opanas Slastion in the village of Harsiki. 27th July 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Kostiantyn Huzenko.
Haystacks in the village of Kamiana Yaruha in Slobozhanshchyna. 31st July 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
Children ride bicycles in the village of Khrystanivka. 31st July 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Pavlo Pashko.
Residents of the village of Khrystanivka talking near a shop. 31st July 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Mykyta Zavilinsky.
The children of Marharita and Roman Martynov run in the field. The family makes gourmet sauces in Zhovti Vody. 31st July 2020. Special project “Farming”. Photo by Yuriy Stefaniak.
Clay plates in the National Museum-Reserve of Ukrainian Pottery in Opishne. 2nd August 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Iryna Hromotska.
Workers at the Kvitneva Poultry Farm checking eggs. 2nd August 2020. Special project “Green Expedition”. Photo by Serhii Korovainyi.
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A man on a horse near the Lviv Jersey Cheese Factory. 4th August 2020. Special project “Farming”. Photo by Serhii Korovainyi.
People taking pictures with a Ukraïner car in the background in Kotelva. 5th August 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Iryna Hromotska.
Milk collection on the organic Volyn farm ‘Staryi Porytsk’. 5th August 2020. Special project “Farming”. Photo by Serhii Korovaynyi.
Pyvykha is a hill 168m high, not far from the village of Hradizk. 7th August 2020. Expedition through Poltavshchyna. Photo by Pavlo Pashko.
Latin American Dance Festival at CubaCamp, located on Trukhaniv Island in Kyiv. 7th August 2020. Special project “National Minorities”. Photo by Yuriy Stefaniak.
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The couple Ihor Reva and Solomiia Bratakh founded a cheese factory in the village of Mylchintsi, where they make cheese and jams according to traditional recipes as well as their own. 8th August 2020. Special project “Farming”. Photo by Serhii Korovaynyi.
Avant-garde artist and sculptor Lavrant Bokotei in his studio in Chynadiyovo. 9th August 2020. Expedition through Zakarpattia. Photo by Hari Krisshnan.
A shepherd grazing sheep in Solotvyno village in Zakarpattia. 10th August 2020. Special project “National Communities”. Photo by Hari Krisshnan.
Volodymyr Yarema, beer brewer and co-organiser of the KozaFest festival, which takes place in Kozova village in Halychyna. 10th August 2020. Photo by Mykola Korol.
Vacationers at the beach on Fedotova Spit, Pryazovia. 11th August 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
Volunteers of the Ukraїner project at the annual volunteer camp, which took place online this year. 13th August 2020. Photo by Irynka Hromotska.
Grazing cows at sunset, Tavria. 18th August 2020. Special project “National Minorities”. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
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Ivan Stepanovych Melnyk and Kseniia Karolivna Bondarchuk. They survived the Holodomor at the age of 7. 19th August 2020. Special project “Holodomor”. Photo by Valentyn Kuzan.
Millstones preserved by Ivan Stepanovych Melnyk and Kseniia Karolivna Bondarchuk. 19th August 2020. Special project: “Holodomor”. Photo by Valentyn Kuzan.
Sunset at Henichesk Lake, Tavria. 22nd August 2020. Special project: “National Minorities”. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
The Molokans. 22nd August 2020. Special project: “National Minorities”. Photo by Yurii Stefaniak.
Lake Nesamovyte, one of the highest mountain-side lakes in the Ukrainian Carpathians. 23rd August 2020. Photo by Taras Kovalchuk.
Henichesk Lake, a salt-water lake located on the Arabatska Spit. 29th August 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Pavlo Pashko.
The central beach of the city of Skadovsk. 30th August 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Pavlo Pashko.
Kitesurfer Roman Kotsiuk gets ready for training in Ivanivka village. 31st August 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Katia Akvarelna.
The Syvash consists of shallow lagoons on the Azov Sea and creates the border between the mainland and the Crimean peninsula. 31st August 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Pavlo Pashko.
Tetiana Bolharova, displaced from the Crimea, models from clay in her workshop in Kherson. 6th September 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Katia Akvarelna.
Harvesting Merlot wine grapes at the ‘Kurin’ family winery . 7th September 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Katia Akvarelna.
The forest theatre in the Oleshkivskyi Forest, at the ‘Chumatska Krynytsia’ ecotourism centre . Here, the Kherson Theatre performs its plays from May to September. 11th September 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Irynka Hromotska.
The house of the Ukrainian artist Polina Raiko in the city of Oleshky. 13th September 2020. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Irynka Hromotska.
The sign at the grape harvest collection point in Dniprovske village. Expedition to Tavria. Photo by Irynka Hromotska.
“Sofiia Kyyivska” National Reserve is a museum complex consisting of dozens of architectural monuments. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 18th September 2020. Photo by Dmytro Bartosh.
Boats at the beach on Fedotova Spit, Pryazovia. 27th September 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
Viacheslav Vyrovets is a plant breeder, professor at the Institute of Bast Crops in Hlukhiv. 30th September 2020. Expedition to Sivershchyna. Photo by Roman Matkov.
Hemp harvesting at the Institute of Bast Crops, Hlukhiv. 30th September 2020. Expedition to Sivershchyna. Photo by Roman Matkov.
The Desna River in the city of Novhorod-Siverskyi, Sivershchyna. 3rd October 2020. Photo by Roman Matkov.
Oksana Lyniv is a famous conductor who works with leading musicшфтиall over the world and has organized the LvivMozArt festival in Lviv. 3rd October 2020. Special project “Ukrainians abroad”. Photo by Katia Akvarelna.
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— I wonder whether everyone in Lviv knows that Mozart actually lived here?
Oksana Lyniv
“The Wooden Lace of Chernihiv” is a unique non-commercial project that preserves the wooden architecture of the region. 4th October 2020. Expedition to Sivershchyna. Photo by Roman Matkov.
Burned fields in the village of Cherkaska Lozova, Slobozhanshchyna. 6th October 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
A resident of Slavutych in front of a mosaic. 6th October 2020. The expedition to Sivershchyna. Photo by Roman Matkov.
Zhuravlivskyi Hidropark from a bird’s eye view, Kharkiv. 7th October 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdelov.
The waterfront of Ternopil Lake, Halychyna. 7th October 2020. Photo by Oleksandr Ratushnyak.
Night at the art village of Obyrok, Sivershchyna. 11th October 2020. Photo by Yuriy Stefaniak.
A drone’s view on the territory of Kharkiv Aviation Institute, Slobozhanshchyna. 16th October 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdelov.
The solar energy plant near Novomoskovsk (Podniprovia and Zaporizhzhia) is one of the biggest electrical plants in Ukraine. October 25, 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdelov.
Synevyr Lake is the largest lake in the Ukrainian Carpathanians mountain range. Vnutrishni Gorgany, Zakarpattia. 30th October 2020. Photo by Hari Krisshnan
The road to meadow Apetska on the outskirts of the village of Dubove, Zakarpattia. 1st November 2020. Photo by Hari Krisshnan
Mykhaylo Veklyn is a founder of the ‘RE: laboratory’ recycling studio and the ecological project ‘Urban garden’ on the roof of the former Soviet factory. Now there is a modern innovation centre there, ‘Promprylad.renovatsiya’. 2nd November 2020. Photo by Katia Akvarelna.
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Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a monastic complex, founded in 1051. It has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. 3rd November 2020. Photo by Dmytro Bartosh.
Children’s railway “Mala pivdenna” in Kharkiv, Slobozhanshchyna. 16th November 2020. Photo by Serhii Sverdielov.
Mustafa Jemiliev is a political and public figure, one of the leaders of the Crimean Tatar national movement. Special project “We are Crimea”. 16th November 2020. Photo by Serhii Korovaynyi.
A beach in Feodosia. Crimea, Tavria. Special project “We are Crimea”. The photographer isn’t named for the safety reasons.
Restorer in a workshop in the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts in Kyiv, Naddniprianshchyna. 30th November 2020. Photo by Mykyta Zavilinskyi.
Danya lives in Svitlodarsk, near the front line. He likes animals and feeds dogs and cats in the city. To buy pet food, he sells fish that he catches. 13th December 2020. Photo by Pavlo Pashko.
