Locations
When explosions echo, communication breaks down, and fear grips the chest — they are the ones who stay. Without hesitation, they go where danger is the greatest. They save lives, offer support in the most difficult moments, and protect what can still be preserved and restored.
Their work is a daily struggle for humanity, for hope, and for light in the midst of darkness.
This exhibition is about the people who stand every day on the precipice between destruction and recovery. Energy workers, medics, rescuers, psychologists, police officers — each of them has a story filled with determination, resilience, and deep empathy. These are stories of inner strength, of choosing to stay, to help, to act — even when it feels like there is nothing left to give.
Each story is a reminder that heroes live among us. They do not seek fame, but they deserve recognition. We invite you to see their faces, read their thoughts, feel their strength — and say the most important words: thank you.
Photo credits: Oleksandr Himanov, Maksym Kishka, Andrii Krepkykh, Kseniia Nevenchenko, Danylo Pavlov, Oleh Samoilenko / UNDP in Ukraine
The exhibition is organized under the flagship “EU4Recovery — Empowering Communities in Ukraine” partnership between the EU and UNDP.
Olena Vaskovska has worked in the energy sector for over 20 years. When the full-scale invasion began, she was forced to leave her native substation in Lysychansk, where she worked as a dispatcher. Despite the shelling, evacuations, and constant risk, Olena continued her work at other substations, including Donbaska, where she took exams amid the sound of explosions. Her mission is to ensure the safe operation of the power grid so Ukrainians have light and warmth, even in the darkest times.
Andrii Samusin, a psychologist with the State Emergency Service in Donetsk Oblast, helps his colleagues remain resilient even under the most challenging conditions. With support from UNDP and the EU, his team received a specialized vehicle for outreach in remote areas and modern equipment for psychological relief. Meditation sessions in shelters and other innovative practices help rescuers maintain inner balance and continue their vital work.
Viktor Kurdvanivskyi worked as an ambulance driver in Odesa for five years. Motivated by a strong desire to help others, he completed specialized training through an EU-UNDP partnership and became an emergency medical technician. Today, he saves lives during traffic accidents, fires, and even missile strikes. Despite the daily challenges, Viktor remains resilient and dreams of becoming a paramedic to provide even more effective care.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Kateryna Onipenko heads the Forensic Support Department of the National Police in Donetsk Oblast. In 2015, she first encountered the aftermath of a massive shelling in Mariupol. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Kateryna has continued her service in Donetsk Oblast, where her team documents crimes and conducts exhumations in frontline areas. For her, each investigation is both a challenge and an opportunity to help restore justice. With support from UNDP and the Government of Japan, Kateryna was able to learn about body identification and exhumation procedures from Japanese experts — significantly strengthening her unit’s capacity to document war crimes.
Rescuer Oleksandr Bohachov operates drones and robotic systems that help the State Emergency Service in Dnipro quickly locate people trapped under rubble and assess the scale of destruction. Thanks to support from the EU and UNDP, his team received advanced drones that allow them to work in the most dangerous conditions. One of the memorable cases for Oleksandr was the tragedy in Dnipro on 14 January 2023, when a missile destroyed a nine-story building: it was drones that helped identify those who were trapped beneath the debris.
Anna Humeniuk has been working in the psychological service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine since 2016. She takes part in evacuations from frontline areas, supports the families of fallen colleagues and their children, and helps people cope with loss and stress. With support from the EU and UNDP, the team of psychologists in Donetsk Oblast received modern vehicles to reach remote areas more quickly, as well as new tools for psychological recovery. Anna firmly believes that, despite fear or exhaustion, the most important thing is to stay close to people and help them find peace.
Oleh Polshcha leads the underwater demining unit of the State Emergency Service in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Over 16 years, he has progressed from a regular diver to the head of a team that now clears rivers and lakes of explosive remnants. Together with his colleagues, he retrieves fragments of drones and missiles, helping to protect lives. Thanks to support from the EU and UNDP, the unit received a modern boat and equipment, enabling them to operate in extreme conditions and respond quickly to threats in frontline communities.
